July of 2020 was to be a grand celebration during the 20th season of the Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing and a ban on mass gatherings. We are sorry to announce that Festival 2020 on the courthouse lawn in Fossil will not take place this year. We now plan to hold our 20th season celebration next year on the dates of July 2, 3, 4.
In the meantime, we hope to update our website and facebook page with images of past festivals and, if possible, music performed by the bands who were to have performed at this year’s Festival. Check back regularly to see what’s new at the Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival.
In the meantime, we hope to update our website and facebook page with images of past festivals and, if possible, music performed by the bands who were to have performed at this year’s Festival. Check back regularly to see what’s new at the Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival.
Jay Bowerman
Festival Creator and Producer
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About The Festival
Held the first full weekend in July, this little festival is the best kept secret in Oregon. Wheeler County, with three incorporated towns, is the only county in Oregon with more horses than people. Life marches to a different drummer here, a welcome relief from the hectic pace of the rest of the world!
The Festival takes place in the old pioneer town of Fossil, the county seat, in front of the beautiful historic courthouse, now over 100 years old. The town is nestled in a beautiful valley. Life here is peaceful, quiet, and the residents are full of small town hospitality.. Besides the Festival itself, there's a variety of small but wonderful "museums" but you can also get modern coffee if that's what turns your wheels. There's no admission charged for attending the Festival but you will need to bring your own chair and/or blanket. There's dry camping and RV parking available at the fairgrounds, about a 5-minute walk from the courthouse, and at nearby parks. Local vendors sell a variety of food and treats. A unique and popular part of this Festival is the "Fossil Song Contest." As in traditional song contests, only original unpublished songs are allowed, but songs must be about some feature of the local area - the place, people, history, or even imagined events. Fossil is about a 3-hour drive from Bend or Portland. Bring your instruments and your dancing shoes, stay a day or the whole weekend, and be a part of the greatest little festival in Eastern Oregon. And be sure to plan time to visit the amazing Painted Hills and world famous Fossil beds while you are here. |
