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WHEN:
First full weekend of July
Friday, July 5/13
Saturday July 6/13
Sunday July 7/13
WHERE:
Wheeler County Courthouse Lawn
701 Adams Street
Fossil, OR 97830
CONTACT US:
Info: Wheeler County: 541-763-2400
E-mail: info@wheelercountybluegrass.org
Website: www.wheelercountybluegrass.org
COST:
Workshops: Free!
All other activities: FREE to the public!
WHAT:
The Annual Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival Includes:
Band Scramble
Old Time Melodrama
Grand Young Opry
Parade
5K run (or walk)
Jamming - Any time
Camping
Art Shows
Concessions
Fossil Cruz-In car rally (not organized by the Festival, but held the same weekend)
More events & activities TBA
WHO - The Bands are:
Bluegrass Regulators
Brokentop
Misty River (last reunion performance!)
Bitterbrush Band
Cinder Blue
Quincy Street
Wheeler County Ramblers
Top String
Wayward Vessel
Wild Rye
Grand Young Opry
Sound by Diana Robson
SPONSORS:
City of Fossil
Wheeler County
Wheeler County Fairboard
Fossil Hardware
Fossil Museum
Pine Creek Schoolhouse
Fossil United Methodist Church
Fossil Community Action Group
Fossil Theater Players
The Oregon Community Foundation
Bridge Creek Flora Inn
Wilson Ranches Retreat
HISTORY:
The Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival has grown steadily over its history and is noted for its pleasant rural atmosphere. Wheeler County, with three incorporated towns, is the only county in Oregon with more horses than people. Life marches to a different drummer here, if it marches at all.
The Festival takes place in the old pioneer town of Fossil, the county seat, in front of the beautiful brick courthouse, now over 100 years old. The town, like a lot of its residents, is peaceful, friendly, quiet, and old. 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. There's dry camping and RV parking available at the fairgrounds, about a 5-minute walk from the courthouse, and at nearby parks. Concessions sell a variety of food and crafts.
As is traditional at many festivals, there's a BAND SCRAMBLE, but this one opens the Sunday morning gospel show. Bands are made up from any interested pickers or singers who sign up Sunday morning. Scramble bands must choose from a list of common gospel songs and word sheets will be available. Bands will have approximately 20-30 minutes to prepare two numbers before being called to the stage to perform.
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 clothes, stay a day or the whole weekend, and be a part of the greatest little festival in Eastern Oregon.
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