The committee charged with planning and executing the Deep Roots Festival held the last formal meeting related to the 2009 festival Wednesday, and members were extremely pleased with the results of the weekend’s event.

“I’ve not talked to anyone who hasn’t said this was the greatest festival we’ve ever had,” committee chair Frank Pendergast said.

Although final totals are not yet available, Pendergast reported to the group that attendance may have been slightly down from a year before, but that in all the event ran smoother than ever and was far and away better than past years.

“I know we say that every year,” he said to the group, “but this one by far was the best event we’ve held.”

The committee met and analyzed performances in each of the areas overseen by members and identified any problems that need to be addressed before next year’s festival.

“The arts and crafts surveys collected by Maryllis [Wolfgang] were overwhelmingly positive,” Milledgeville MainStreet director Belinda Washlesky said.

Vendors joined entertainers, bands, actors, community members and thousands of attendees as downtown Milledgeville was transformed Saturday into a festival atmosphere.

Music supervisor Jimmy Holder said the groups appearing on The Bellamy Music Mainstage, headlined by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, were all commendable.

“I thought Jimmy did a fantastic job picking out the bands,” committee member Phillip Joiner said.

Apart from the main stage area, the community stage also drew praise.

“The Community Stage went wonderfully,” committee member Heather Kennedy said. “It worked so well.”

The group was pleased with the number of volunteers on hand as well as the logistics of the event and the security.

“We had more than enough volunteers,” member Carrie Jarrett said.

Before adjourning, the group discussed the date of the 2010 festival, which will be around the same time of the year and will be officially announced at a later date.