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Through the efforts and contributions of Elizabeth and Cyril Boisson, the festival started out as part of the <br /> French celebration known as Fete de la Musique, a free festival of music celebrated worldwide on the <br /> summer solstice. From 1998 through 2001, Carrboro was one of only a few United States Fete de la <br /> Musique venues officially recognized by the Ministry of France, receiving posters each year as a goodwill <br /> gesture. Other cities included New York City and San Francisco. We were honored to be a part of it. <br /> The Fete brought together musicians of every persuasion who played for free at stages from one end of <br /> town to the other. In Carrboro we moved the Fete to the closest Sunday to June 21st, celebrating Father's <br /> Day at the same time. This initiated a great annual event to bring Dad to that was free and fun for the <br /> whole family. <br /> In 2000, the 20th anniversary of the international Fete de la Musique was celebrated in more than 100 <br /> countries all over the world. In 2001, Carrboro was an official venue for the last time. A cooler month <br /> needed to be chosen for Carrboro's music festival, when more folks were around to volunteer. <br /> Changes In 2002 <br /> When the members of the Fete de la Musique Committee met on a Wednesday night in February, 2002, <br /> we made a decision that was a long time coming. The annual celebration of music, which was entering <br /> into a fifth year, would still be "The Fete"to all who participated, and in that tradition be a day filled with <br /> music all over Carrboro, it would just fall a few months later. The committee had several reasons for <br /> reaching this decision. <br /> Summer Woes <br /> There were a lot of difficulties with planning an event of this magnitude on <br /> the summer solstice. Many folks were vacationing, so the volunteer pool <br /> was small. The day of the event was usually hot, making it uncomfortable, <br /> and at times unbearable, in a town that can be sweltering come mid-June. <br /> Add to that Carrboro Day, which fails in May, and the Carrboro Family <br /> §Y Fourth of July Celebration, and planning such a huge event started to get <br /> sticky. Unlike other town sponsored events, until 2004 the Carrboro Music <br /> Festival was planned primarily by volunteers. Some of these volunteers <br /> were also involved in planning the other events. Event planning burnout was <br /> ai it on the rise. Fete de la Musique, wedged between the other events, was <br /> always the biggest draw, bringing in thousands of folks to our little town on a <br /> day divine with music. It needed to happen later in the year. <br /> A Better Date <br /> The new fall date, the last Sunday in September, brought cooler <br /> temperatures and more volunteers. With local high schools and the colleges <br /> all in session at this later date, volunteer numbers have grown as word <br /> spreads about our festival. After moving the date of the festival to <br /> September in 2002, Committee members agreed the right decision had <br /> been made. <br /> The Beat Goes On <br />