All Ames Area Artists founder Justin Means wanted on Saturday night was a decent night of sleep. Instead, he had a great night.

An estimated 500 people grazed the Iowa State arboretum on Saturday afternoon to attend Together Fest — an event for which Means had spent months of rigorous planning.

“But I’m past my tired stage,” Means told the crowd in his Woodstock-like announcer voice. “I’m in my dancing stage.”

Together Fest featured 10 Ames bands ranging from the dance-friendly jam-rock of Medulla Oblongata to the mosh-friendly hardcore hip-hop of 35″ Mudder.

“Everyone here is from Ames,” Means said. “That is what it’s all about. The bands are meeting each other — people are having a good time. Everything is going great.”

The event was funded by the GSB and through a fund-raising concert held at People’s Bar and Grill last Thursday.

GSB President Rob Wiese attended the festival and worked with Means on any last-minute preparations.

“We need to do more stuff like this,” Wiese said. “It’s something fun to do on a Saturday afternoon and the band’s are getting a lot of exposure.”

Wiese said the event had yet to have any major hitches, aside from a cross country race that lead runners through a portion of the park.

“We got everybody out of the way and were cheering them on,” Wiese said.

Concert-goers at Together Fest were encouraged to give cash donations to benefit the Central Iowa facility Main street Living.

“It’s great to be able to have fun and still benefit Main street Living,” Wiese said.

Central Iowa radio station KKDM 107.5 set up at the event and had been advertising it during the week.

The station, which sponsors a Battle of the Bands competition for Des Moines in Ames bands, has been one of the leaders in bringing Ames musicians together to build up the local scene.

Aaron Richter, a member of The Groovers, said he had played with a lot of the same bands during the Battle of the Bands last spring.

“We’re not competing today — just having a good time,” Richter said. “Playing outside is always more fun. I think they should make this a regular thing.”

Floodplane singer Bill Kearney said he would prefer an indoor festival. “The sound is a little better, but today was alright,” he said. “The weather has been good.”

With early morning rain and clouds hovering above the park most of the day, the possibility of rain was a major concern for coordinators.

But the weather cooperated and to Means’ surprise, the festival stayed on schedule most of the day. “I can’t believe it,” he said.

With local club DJs lending their skills, even the set changes had something to offer. Although concert-goer Casey Green was not sure how well it went over.

“Rave is not what people here are used to,” she said.

But like many who attended Together Fest, Green was impressed with the local talent. “I think the music is delicious,” she said.