Phish Fest Becomes Largest City In Vermont August 11, 2004 - Associated Press By Staff COVENTRY, Vt. -- Gates open Thursday for the big Phish farewell festival, but the Newport State Airport already was looking like a big Phish pond earlier in the week. Organizers said transforming the locale is a colossal project. "We're building a city, a temporary city," said concert promoter Adam Lewis. "It'll be the largest city in the state of Vermont. It's quite an undertaking." That city -- 70,000 people strong -- has all the necessities: 500,000 gallons of water, more than 100 phone lines, a temporary sewage system and vendors from all over the country, ready to cash in. "I'm looking very forward to it," said vendor Dolores Billie. "For 27 years, I've been selling baked potatoes, but this is my first adventure in something like this." It took a month to build the festival grounds, and for a weekend, it will be the largest city in Vermont. But organizers said within a month after it ends, there will be no trace anyone was ever here. Recycling and trash collection will be provided. Afterward, crews will be cleaning up. "The amount of trash produced over a three-day festival -- you can't imagine. People leave anything and everything behind," said Leah Konecny of Good Vibes Recyclers. "We've scored lawnmowers, refrigerators, people's shoes, cars." Organizers won't release the total cost for construction of the festival grounds, but for fans, it's priceless. Article Copyright © 2004 Associated Press