CEDAR CITY – The show-stopping sounds of the many artists who jammed their way into the hearts of thousands at the 2015 Groovefest Music and Art Festival only played second fiddle to one man; Festival Founder Tim Cretsinger, whose returning throat cancer left him unable to speak for the first year ever.
Despite the illness causing him to once again resume chemotherapy and radiation treatments the very same week Groovefest began, Cretsinger was spotted in the audience enjoying the performances, photographing the entertainment and occasionally onstage where he was seen, but not heard.
At one point during Saturday’s show Cretsinger’s wife, Lisa Cretsinger, took the second stage to read a letter that her husband wrote to the crowd:
The Groove Crew has stepped up to make this grand event even bigger and better than ever. What these wonderful people have shown me this past year is that passion can turn hard work into a beautiful such as Groovefest, and Groovefest is hard work. But what any of the Groove Crew will tell you is they do it for the love of it. They also have shown me what can be done, and it can be done without me; which is nice to know, but I don’t want that to happen any time soon.
… Groovefest is my life and these people are my family, and I am forever indebted to them and what they have done and what Groovefest has become … I also want to thank Lisa for keeping me together and going I would not be here if it weren’t for her.
Pushing through to the end of the letter with her silent husband’s reassuring hand on her shoulder, Lisa Cretsinger’s voice only broke for a moment.
As she welled up at the gratitude her hardworking husband composed for her to read to the crowd, she wore her heart on her sleeve – a rare, public moment of emotion from a strong and sometimes almost stoic woman.
Despite the humble founder’s illness and his wife’s exhaustion, the event went off without a hitch. Band after Band took the stage from the early afternoon well into the darkness both Friday and Saturday in the Main Street Park. The tiny park was flooded with music and art lovers from all over who gather together each year to celebrate the Groovefest Music and Art Festival.
Much of the accolades were given to the Groove Crew’s Peggy Green who took up the organizing of the bands when the founder himself, “Pa Groove,” was too week to work through all of the torrent of requests that pile in every year.
Green really stepped up to the plate, Lisa Cretsinger said, while reading her hubby’s letter to the crowd. She took the reins and made sure that no matter what, the fans and the bands would not be disappointed.
Green’s husband, Dennis Green said, he was so proud of his wife and the hard work that she had done – without taking any of the credit for all of the hours he put in himself.
The energy of the audience was a powerhouse of love that rippled through the park and back to both the Groove Crew and the Cretsinger’s, and as the week-long fun and festivities came to a soft close audience members by the hundreds helped to gather city chairs and garbage returning the love back to the team who made it all possible.
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Groovefest founder Tim Cretsinger takes a moment to photograph one of this year's acts, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Cale Tyson rocks the stage with his throw-back country twingy twang sound, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Celtic rock band The Indulgers wowed the crowd Friday night with their unstoppable energy, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 26, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
The crowd pleasing Celtic rock band The Indulgers was a dancer's delight Friday night at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 26, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Celtic rock band The Indulgers wowed the crowd Friday night with their unstoppable energy, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 26, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Celtic rock band The Indulgers wowed the crowd Friday night with their unstoppable energy, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 26, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Celtic rock band The Indulgers wowed the crowd Friday night with their unstoppable energy, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 26, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
The crowd pleasing Celtic rock band The Indulgers was a dancer's delight Friday night at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 26, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
The crowd pleasing Celtic rock band The Indulgers was a dancer's delight Friday night at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 26, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Time for some grub at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Groovefest founder Lisa Cretsinger reads a hand-written letter to the audience from her husband Tim Cretsinger who is unable to read it himself, because of a massive tumor in his throat that he is undergoing treatments for. Tim Cretsinger's treatments began Monday, the first day of the week-long music festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Groovefest Music and Art festival founder Tim Cretsinger places a reassuring hand on his wife Lisa Cretsinger's shoulder as she breaks down while reading his message to the crowd, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Groovefest Music and Art Festival 2015, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Southwest Wildlife Foundation booth at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Lounging at the park enjoying the music at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Abby Huhan sits perfectly still while Mad Hatter face painter Jennifer Bush paints her face, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Abby Huhan sits perfectly still while Mad Hatter face painter Jennifer Bush paints her face, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Abby Huhan sits perfectly still while Mad Hatter face painter Jennifer Bush paints her face, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Kristine Jensen raises a necklace to the light to watch as the sun illuminates the creation of Desert Gems Jewelry, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Handcrafted art with purpose created by Andy Mondragon of Spel-J.A.M. at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Handcrafted art with purpose created by Andy Mondragon of Spel-J.A.M. at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Handcrafted art with purpose created by Andy Mondragon of Spel-J.A.M. at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Original artwork at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Goose Girl Custom Jewelry's creations at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Goose Girl Custom Jewelry's creations at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Curious customers stop to check out the unique electric oil can and lunchbox guitars created by Paragoonah Guitar owner Jerry Campbell, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Creator Jerry Campbell demonstrates on a lunchbox guitar for the crowd at Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Jerry Campbell of Paragoonah Guitar shows off his electric oil can and lunchbox guitars at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Groove Crew serenade by Paul Schwartz at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
The work of Bill Kutcher Photography beautifully displayed at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Becky Elliott of the The Bloomin' Loom Weaving Studio weaves her magic on the loom at the Groovefest Art and Music Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Time for a bite to eat at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Lounging at the park enjoying the music at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Lounging at the park enjoying the music at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Ryan Kay running the sound at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Ryan Kay running the sound at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Lounging at the park enjoying the music at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Lounging at the park enjoying the music at the Groovefest Music and Art Festival, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
Yum - Cotton Candy is good, Main Street Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 27, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born and raised in South Jersey, Carin Miller moved to Cedar City 20 years ago or so and found her home. A 2012 graduate of Southern Utah University, she earned her bachelor's degree in communication with a minor in fine art photography – after dropping out of high school at the age of 16.
Carin proved that with a little determination and hard work anything was possible.
Her love of history and family has compelled her to dig up “Legacies Lost to Time” and share them with the world when she is not busy with either work or her four children.
Having worked for the Iron County Today, Alive Utah South and KCSG Television before landing with St. George News, Carin has covered a wide range of issues, events and happenings throughout the Southern Utah region. https://www.facebook.com/carinmillernews