Bluegrass fest begins Sunday

By Jim Richardson
Pauls Valley Daily Democrat

September 07, 2008 01:59 pm

— The Arbuckle Mountain Park, located east of Interstate 35 off Exit 60 and Ruppe Road, is preparing to kick off its 9th Annual Bluegrass Festival.
Local promoter Rosemary Bowen said this year’s festival will be bigger and better than ever, with 10 bands from four different states slated to appear at the seven-day event.
“The festival will start on Sunday, September 7th and run through Saturday, Sept. 13. We’ll have lots of good Bluegrass, Country and Gospel music for everyone to enjoy,” she said.
“We’ll have bands this year from Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. Mark Phillips and 3rd Generation will be there along with Boggy River Bluegrass, Flint Hill Special, the Henderson Family Band, Lonesome Prairie and several more.”
To kick off the festival, a devotional will be held Sunday morning, Sept. 7, beginning at 10 a.m.
Early Bird events are scheduled for Monday through Wednesday and will include an open stage where amateur musicians get an opportunity to take part in a public performance.
“We’ll have an open stage on Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m., and anyone that wants to perform can get up there and play,” Bowen said.
“There will be no charge to come to the park and perform that day, and people of any age are welcome to get up on stage.”
Bowen said live music isn’t the only attraction that visitors will find of interest at the park. The festival will also feature food concessions, a craft show and a series of music-related workshops.
“We should have vendors there beginning on Monday with corn-on-the-cob, barbecue, hamburgers, funnel cakes and drinks. We’ll also have different crafters selling leather goods, jewelry, purses, artwork and several other hand-made items,” Bowen explained.
“There will be several different free workshops held during the festival for people who are just beginning or those just wanting to pick up a few pointers. We’ll have one for mandolin, guitar, Dobro, fiddle, upright bass and banjo.”
Bowen said the Bluegrass Queen Contest will be another one of the highlights at this year’s Arbuckle Mountain Bluegrass Festival which begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 12.
One of the final events at the festival will be the Oklahoma Junior Fiddle Contest which will take place Saturday, Sept. 13, beginning at 10 a.m. Prize money will be awarded for the top three winners including $300 for first place.
According to Bowen, on-site facilities will be available this year to give visitors the option to drop by the festival and spend any given day or pitch camp and stay for an extended period during the week-long event.
“Camping sites will go for $12 per day or $10 per day for the whole week. We’ll also have 300 RV sites for $10 to $12 each, and we’ll be having hot showers, clean restrooms and two dump stations available,” Bowen explained.
The cost for admission at this year’s bluegrass festival is $12 Thursday through Saturday, or $30 for an all-event pass. Children 14 and under may attend free of charge. Special discounted rates will be available for groups who wish to come for a brief stay of four to five hours.
Bowen noted that absolutely no drugs or alcohol will be permitted on the premises and only acoustical instruments will be allowed to be played.
For more information call Allen or Rosemary Bowen at 405-665-5226 or log on to their web site at www.arbucklemtbluegrasspark.com or contact them by e-mail at rosemary@brightok.net.