More than 8,000 people had come through the gate about an hour into the event, and if the sun continued to shine, organizers said, the count could beat last year’s tally of 8,500. Beth Laverick, owner of B Scene Events & Promotions, said ticket sales had plateaued in the run-up to the weekend when it was unclear whether Hurricane Florence was going to affect the region but began selling again when it appeared that the day would be clear.