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WHEN:
First full weekend of July
Friday, June 30/17
Saturday July 1/17
Sunday July 2/17
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!
This year's workshop song will be "Little Rosewood Casket"All other activities: FREE to the public!
WHAT:
The Annual Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival Includes:
Gospel Open Mic (see below)
Fossil Song Contest (see below)
Grand Young Opry
Parade
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
Buffalo Kin
Down Range
Grass Station
Honey Don't
Misty River (20th anniversary reunion!)
Pitchfork Revolution
True North
Wheeler County Ramblers
Wild Rose Trail
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 and at the high school, both about a 5-minute walk from the courthouse, and at nearby parks. Concessions sell a variety of food and crafts.
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 As in traditional song contests, only original unpublished songs are allowed, but songs must be about some feature of the local area - the place, people, history, or even imagined events.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.
Gospel Open Mic
The traditional sunday morning Gospel Show at 11 a.m. features a Gospel Open Mic, with sign-ups at the information table on Friday and Saturday. A total of eight open mic slots will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Performers may be either ensemble or solo. Performers will be asked to identify their song when they sign up in order to duplication with others on the sign-up list.
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