- Tell us how many years you have been attending the festival.
- How far do you travel to this festival (city & state)?
- Do you attend the festival with friends or do you bring your family?
- How did you first hear about the festival?
- What is it about the festival that continues to bring you back?
- Where are you camping and does your campsite have a name?
- Can you share a memory or story relating to the festival?
- Do you play (a) musical instrument(s)?
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Walnut Valley Festival History Project
The Winfield Public Library and the Walnut Valley Festival would like you to contribute your story to this history project site.
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5 comments:
I first heard about the Walnut Valley Festival when I was living in Houston. A group of people I worked with went every year and really had a great time. Our first festival was in 1989, when we decided to move to Winfield. Our house for many years was the the place to stay when everyone out of town wanted to go to the festival. One year we had over 50 instruments that our guests had brought with them. Our kids were small and loved to go with us. Now they are in College and the Pecan Grove is their home during the festival.I can't remember if it was 89 or 90 but we got stuck in the mud very late at night in the campgrounds with the Dixie Chicks. The main problem that night was getting our feet to move in the mud and pass the bass over our heads to safe ground! Our family does not play any instruments but love to go and listen to everyone else! When we travel and tell people we are from Winfield....everyone knows about Winfield because of the festival.
Winfield is my hometown, but I didn't go to my first "Bluegrass" until my junior year of high school. Been going ever since, but I think I was 23 before I really started to go to shows outside of the pecan grove! It's been an evolution. As a teen, the draw was camping with friends and the party. It soon became a time to reunite with old friends (many of whom I only get to see at the festival), meet new people and enjoy the music. More and more, I appreciate the amazing and abundant musical talent found there, and the bond forged by those who attend the festival. There are no strangers! People watch out for each other, share with each other, laugh together, sing together... it just feels good.
The '07 Festival (35th) was my 33rd. With that many years of memories, it is hard to keep from writing a book. Attending for one day grew into camping for a week before the event began. Influencing friends to come for at least one day led to those friends coming for the pre-line-up. We have camped alone, with friends/family/and groups. Jamming...Mt Dulcimer and Autoharp and just listening are special. The extremes of weather have been experienced. We came from a small, area town. Now from Winfield. A memory highlight: Some years ago, a Bagpipe player (from Kansas City, I believe) camped near us. To practice, he always went under the bridge. He did this to keep from disturbing people. As he walked to the bridge area, he looked like the Pied Piper with a following of many people. What a thrill to have seen Alison Krauss, Mark O'Conner plus so many other special performers. There is no way that the Festival can be described to the person who has not been there. AND Thank You to all of those who are responsible for organizing the festival gift.
Keep returning because of the intrigue, memories, entertainment, friends, family and the unknown of this "different world". Lived about 25 miles away, when the FESTIVAL first began. Checked it out the first or second year and have continued attending.
Many favorite entertainers, but one, now gone but not forgotten, was Art Thieme. We followed him from stage to stage. As a teacher, I used his songs "I Like To Eat Apples and Bananas...." and "Oh I Had A Silly Chicken and She Wouldn't Lay an Egg".
A favorite from '07 was "The Wiyos". It was evident that I was not alone in my enjoyment!
Now as I drive by the Fairgrounds, I find it difficult to visualize the grounds as they were a short time ago.
Thank You...to Everyone who makes the event happen!!
I attended my first festival in my mothers womb in 1982. I have been going almost every year since, with a total of 16 years under my belt. I grew up going with my family as a little girl and in college met my husband who was born/raised in Winfield. Now, we live in Winfield and are sharing the yearly tradition with our son (2) and growing family. I remember seeing the Dixie Chics, Nickel Creek and most recently Beppe Gambetta (last year stage 5). We love camping and are looking forward to many years of music and family fun!
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