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Photos by Jordan Hays
John Otey Hutchinson and Kenny McDowell of The Hurlers performing at Otey's Fest.
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Cacky's became Otey's in 1991. The owner kept the last two letters on the sign to save money.
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Children playing on an inflatable at Otey's Fest.
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Super T Revue took the stage at 7 p.m.
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Drinks were served outside at Otey's Fest.
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Rodney Davis has worked at Otey's Tavern for more than 20 years and grilled at the event.
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The bar at Otey's Tavern.
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Tyrone Smith dawned his costume for the last leg of Super T Revue performance.
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Super T on stage performing with special guests from the audience.
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Blues Old Stand performing at Otey's Fest.
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Blues Old Stand lead singer performing with harmonica at Otey's Fest.
Otey’s Tavern held its sixth annual Otey’s Fest on Saturday, July 26 and celebrated the tavern’s 25th anniversary.
The event featured performances from Hugh Rowe Thomas, The Hurlers, The Negotiators, Super T. Revue and Blues Old Stand headlining the event. Rodney Davis, a cook for Otey’s Tavern for more than 20 years, grilled cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches and hot dogs for guests in the parking lot.
Will Haver, owner of Otey’s Tavern, began holding Otey’s Fest when he bought the bar seven years ago. With almost 20 years of tradition at the bar, Haver said that the tavern was “great” before he bought it.
"This is like 'Cheers.' The last thing you do is mess with it," Haver said. "All we did just add a little bit to it here and there."
Haver said he tried to pick bands that people would have heard 25 years ago as a throwback to the bar’s 25th anniversary.
And perhaps the most appropriate throwback band that evening were The Hurlers, which featured John Otey Hutchinson, the bar’s original owner, on guitar and vocals.
The tavern was originally owned by Catherine Oztekin and named Cacky’s. The bar was struggling, so in 1991, Hutchinson bought the bar from her and changed the name to Otey’s. The off-colored “Y’S” is from the bars original sign, “Cacky’s.”
At the time, Hutchinson was in Milton Edward Otey Band. Hutchinson said people began assuming that his band bought a bar. He never dispelled the rumor, and now he attributes it the bars success.
“Suddenly there was a music place in Crestline, and everybody just gravitated towards it,” Hutchinson said. “I don’t know if it was because of the band or the bar, but hopefully it was because of [the band] … As far as I know, it is definitely the first bar that had music [in Crestline].”
