The combination of hot, stormy weather and a cool economy failed to spoil Riverbend this year, organizers said.

It also didn’t hurt that festival organizers decided not to raise pin prices.

“We knew going in to the festival that gas prices would be high, so we consciously went in without a price increase to help what’s going on in our economy,” said Chip Baker, festival executive director.

quote coming from festivalgoer about pin prices being such a great deal.

Gary Bongiovanni, editor-in-chief of the weekly Pollstar concert information magazine, said it is too early in the festival season to assess whether the lagging economy is hurting events across the board.

“Given the state of the economy in the last few weeks ... it wouldn’t surprise me if we see a drop off in concert ticket sales nationally,” he said.

International Festivals and Events Association President Steven Schmader characterized the state of the festival industry as “fairly normal.”

“I wouldn’t be prepared to say it’s been all highs or all lows, but ultimately I’m not hearing of great disasters happening all over the place,” he said.

Mr. Baker noted that concessions sales, which are the benchmark for success, were up this year. Strong turnout at Thursday’s ZZ Top performance is expected to push the festival ahead of last year’s sales marks, he said.

“(The ZZ Top performance) has got to be right up there with performances by (Lynyrd) Skynyrd and Hank (Williams) Jr. and Kid Rock and the Allman Brothers,” Mr. Baker said.

However, one vendor said sales were mixed.

“People are being a little more conscientious about their money,” said Ken Harvell of Harvell’s Concessions. “I’d say overall (sales) have been down a little. When it’s hot, people aren’t going to be coming in to buy hot foods.”

The hot, muggy weather boosted sales at Repicci’s Italian Ice, said Jim Frazier, who has been in operation for two years.

“Sales have been pretty good,” he said. “It’s been very positive.”

Store owners in the Riverbend Marketplace, which made its debut this year, said they expected better sales. The owners attributed lackluster business to the economy and general unfamiliarity with the marketplace’s cash-only system.

Niki McGinnis, an assistant at Jaime Fari’s American Incas booth, said daily sales were about $500 a day but could have been stronger if more people were aware of the outlet.

“Sales have been all right, but it could have been a lot better if it was better advertised,” she said. “A lot of people were surprised when we said we said cash only, no tokens.”