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News WATCH FOR AN EXCITING SEASON AT THE OAK TREE OPRY IN 2010. SOME OF THE BEST ENTERTAINERS IN THE UPPER MIDWEST WILL BE PERFORMING. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND RESERVED SEATS FOR NEARLY ALL THE SHOWS. CALL 712-762-4363 FOR RESERVED SEATS. |
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35th NATIONAL OLD TIME COUNTRY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL, LeMARS, IOWA, AUG 30-SEPT 5, 2010
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AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 5, 2010, PLYMOUTH COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, LeMARS,IOWA
This incredible event is the largest and most unique multi-purpose festival of old-time musical genres in America. We celebrate the music of our rural past, as well as America's typical Agricultural lifestyle through the Pioneer Ag Expo which is the overall sponsor of all that we do. It is our rural music heritage we strive to save, and present. Once inside the gates of the Plymouth County Fairgrounds, all ten stages, and all other activities are covered by the one ticket. We do not allow liquor or illicit drugs at this event. In 2010, on Sunday, August 29, we will have an early-bird Gospel Sing at our little Church Without Walls, in conjunction with a pot-luck dinner, beginning at 6pm. Bring a covered dish or two, and enjoy the food, the music, and the presence.
PLYMOUTH COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
Located at 500 4th St.NE, the fairgrounds are located just off Highway-3 which runs east and west through LeMars. It is a large, very flat facility, with very good handicap accessibility. The Main stage building is air conditioned, the Tipi Village is located in an old pioneer village with lots of trees, and RV camping is all on very flat ground. Upkeep of the grounds is very good including new showers and flush toilets. Some seating is available at all ten stages but we highly recommend you bring your own lawn chairs for your own comfort.
CITY OF LEMARS
Known as the ice cream capital of the world, LeMars is a cosmopolitan city of about 10,000. The 'ice cream' title was awarded in 1944, since LeMars is the home of Well's Blue Bunny Ice Cream Company, the largest ice cream factory in the world. LeMars is a well rounded community founded primarily by British ancestors, however the Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Germans, and Dutch made significant contributions to its growth. There are a number of attractions in the area, number one being the Plymouth County Historical Museum which was converted from a large school facility. It contains a huge collection of memories as well as a very nice performance center. There is also an Ice Cream Museum at 16 5th Ave. NW, with an old soda fountain, tours, and the best ice cream in the world. The LeMars Art Center is located at 200 Central Ave SE; and the LeMars Community Theater at 105 1st St NE. Lots of restaurants in LeMars: Archie's Waeside is a steak house within walking distance of the fairgrounds, as a matter of fact it is on the southwest corner of the grounds (712-546-7011), and Lally's Eastside Restaurant with the best broasted chicken in the world. It too, is within walking distance of the fairgrounds, (712-546-4406) right next door to a Fairways Grocery Store. Other eating establishments include HyVee Deli; Blue Bunny, Dominos Pizza, Pizza Hut, Jerry's Pizza, Godfather's Pizza, Pizza Ranch, Mr P's Pizza, Berdenes, Bellissimo Coffee Works, Hardees, McDonalds, Bob's Drive In, Dairy Queen, China Buffet, Bamboo Village, Family Table, Taco John, J&J Cafe, 4 Brothers Steak House, Subway, Quizmo, and Lady Ann's Tea Room. There are six motels in LeMars.
Baymont Inn 712-546-4910
Holiday Inn Express 712-546-1700
Super-8 712-546-8800
Bel-Air 712-546-4189
Lakeside 712-546-7108
The LeMars motels fill-up early, we highly recommend reservations be made in advance. There are also motels in nearby Sioux City, Remsen, Orange City, and Sioux Falls, SD which is only a short distance away.
FESTIVAL ADMISSION
We have done everything we can possibly do to keep our ticket prices down and our performance quality high. Daily Adult tickets (over age 18) are $15, which includes all ten stages and all attractions. Over-70 daily tickets are only $12. Anyone can purchase a seven-day pass for $60. The festival is FREE to all under the age of 18.
RV CAMPING FACILITIES
The campground on the fairgrounds is large and all flat. There are about 550 electrical hook-ups, about 100 of them 30-amp, the others are 20-amp (will run an air conditioner if other electrical appliances are not running). The central toilets and hot showers are new and easy to get to. Porta-potties are also available in the campground. All areas are very close to the buildings and all festival activities. Water taps are available to fill your water tanks for free, and there is a free dump station just across the street from the main gate. A pumper truck will come to your campsite, the charge last year was $20. Camping fees are $12 per day with electricity, $8 per day without. Tent camping is $8 per day under the trees. There are dry camping areas, and a generator area, $8 per day. All electric sites are first come first serve, there is no staff to take reservations at the fairgrounds. All campers are invited to partake of the free pot-luck supper on Monday evening (6pm)at the main stage area. Bring two dishes to accomodate the international guests we have.
FOOD ON THE GROUNDS
We have some of the best food available on the grounds at LeMars. We have a beautiful food court under the trees, picnic tables, and music all around the entire area. Enjoy the mobile Culver's Butterburgers and all they have from their fine restaurant; Tailgater-Toby char-broiled corn-fed beef comes in all kinds of sizes shapes and styles. Also chicken and pork. The Longhorn Saloon is an old-timey food stand with delicious fish, chicken, curly fry potatoes, and their famous cherry-limeade drink. We always add a couple of new food stands to our regulars, so don't be surprised to find the best food you've ever eaten at a festival......anywhere!
CORPS OF DISCOVERY TIPI VILLAGE
This amazing collection of Tipi's and marquees is a return to the very earliest settlers in the great Prairie lands. The participants erect their temporary homes for a week, dress in costume and clothing of the period, and conduct all kinds of trade-goods business, old time Native American games and pow wows, and old style entertainment. Sometimes you can get a good fire-cooked strong cup of coffee, or a piece of peach cobbler made in a Dutch Oven. It's an experience worth experiencing. Hear some of our oldest songs, watch some contests, learn how to throw a tomahawk. The Tipi settlement is located under the trees in the old abandoned Pioneer Village. It creates a spooky atmosphere to be sure, but the fun is walking through it to get to the One on the Mountain Stage which is at one end of the Village, and the Church Without Walls at the other. Join in, become a participant.
ARTS & CRAFTS, PIONEER EXPOSITION
Arts and crafts, especially those that come from a rural tradition are a number one attraction at this event. We have several options for artisans and craftsmen who want to participate. We keep our prices down so that today's economy will make it more practical for artisans who make products that appeal to the rural minded. Indoor spots (in a locked building at night) costs $70 for the space used. You can set up and tear down at your own leisure. 10x10 outdoor canopies are equally welcome at the same price. We do not take commissions on products sold. An application must be filed (available from NTCMA) and paid before space will be allocated. We also have a commercial building for articles other than rustic-rural, and an area for 10x10 canopies, all at the same price. Please apply early as our available space sometimes runs out.
STAGES
Each listed program lasts several hours with many performers on each show. We will list each act as that information becomes available when scheduling is complete, usually around the 1st of August.
It takes ten stages to accomodate the more than 600 performers, celebrities, musicians, and participants that come from around the world to this oasis of traditional acoustic music. In addition to the stages you will find jamming areas everywhere. Each designated stage has a director, and most stages have sound. MAIN STAGE (Soundshp Sound); DANCE HALL-SHOWCASES STAGE(Soundship Sound); CONTESTS-WORKSHOPS-INTIMATE CONCERTS STAGE(Prairie Music Sound); JAMMING STAGE (Prairie Music Sound); CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS STAGE (includes sing-alongs and great Gospel music all 7 days)(Tom Mullalley Sound); DOBROTORIUM STAGE (Bertha Swatzell Sound); PIONEER STAGE (D&D Sound); ONE ON THE MOUNTAIN STAGE (Hughes Brothers Sound); TIPI VILLAGE STAGE (no sound); OLD LOG CABIN FRONT PORCH STAGE(no sound). All ten stages run approximately 9am-midnight all seven days.
PROGRAMS-SHOWS-PRESENTATIONS Each program listed below are several hours long, with different performers on each show. The performer's names and their times of performance will be listed, as scheduling is completed, usually around the 1st of August.
Scheduling ten stages with high quality entertainment for seven days is no easy task. However, we hope to present some of what goes on at the various stages. MAIN STAGE-MON Welcome Home Show; Old Time Radio Show; TUE Breakfast Show; Troubadour Show; Americana Show; WED Nebraska Show; Dinner Bell Show; Iowa Show; Classic Country Show; THUR Oklahoma Show; Country Cousins Show; Original Songs Show; Thursday Night Opry; FRI Texas Show; Backwoods Country Show; KWMT Radio Show; Traditional Bluegrass Show; Log Cabin Music Show; LeMars Old Time Jamboree; Hall of Fame Show; Hillbilly Music Show; Saturday Night Concert; SUN Early Morning Church Services; Cowboy Church; Country Breeze Music Show; Sunday Country Concert; Sunday Night Finale. DANCE HALL-SHOWCASE STAGE - MON Open Stage; Old Time Kitchen Music Show; Old Time Barn Dance; TUE Morning Coffee Show; Tuesday Frolics; SongFest; Old Time Dance; WED Country Morning Show; Cornfield Country Show; Old Time Opry Road Show; Old Time Twenties Dance; THUR Early Rooster Show; Front Porch Jamboree; LeMars Hometown Country Show; Old Time Western Dance; FRI Midlands Review; Old Time Vaudeville Show; Old Time Ozark Dance; Country Music Late Show; SAT Rural Roots Music Show; Dusty Attic Music Show; Showcases; Piano Contest; Clogging Contest; Sandhills Country Dance; SUN Rising Son Gospel Show; Haymow Frolics; Hootenanny Folk Music Show;Tin Pan Alley Music Show PIONEER STAGE - MON Corn Crib Music Show; Music Memories Show TUE Pioneer Music Show; Homestead Music Show; Farmland Music Show WED Sunshine Music Show; Old Time Medicine Show; Hee Haw Shindig; Danny Dee Show THUR LeMars Happy Valley Show; Midwest Jubilee; Gypsy Music Show; Music Treasures Show FRI Sioux City Sue Show; Crackerbarrel Country Show; Heroes Country Music Show; Sandhills Music Show SAT Saturday Morning Round Up; South Dakota Show; Michigan Show; Minnesota Show; Missouri Show; Kansas Show; Colorado Show SUN Old Time Radio Church Services; Covered Wagon Music Show; Song Catcher Country Concert; CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS - MON Open Stage; Larry & Donna Harms Gospel; Gospel in the Gloaming TUE Open Stage; Wally James Gospel; Larry & Donna Harms Gospel; Gospel in the Gloaming WED Rising Dawn Gospel Show; Wally James Gospel; Larry & Donna Harms Gospel; Gospel in the Gloaming THUR Sunshine Gospel Show; Wally James Gospel; Larry & Donna Harms Gospel; Gospel in the Gloaming FRI Sunrise Gospel Group; Larry & Donna Harms Gospel; Pat Rumilote's Sawdust Trail Gospel Show SAT Pat Rumilote's Sawdust Trail Gospel Show; Gospel in the Gloaming SUN Pat Rumilote's Sawdust Trail Gospel Show; Gospel Songwriting Contest WORKSHOP-CONTEST-INTIMATE CONCERT SERIES - MON Open stage; workshops; intimate concerts TUE Open Stage; workshops; intimate concerts WED Open Stage; workshops, intimate concerts THUR Open Stage, workshops, intimate concerts FRI Open Stage; workshops; Contests for: Over-50 Singers; Cowboy Poetry; Storytelling; Yodeling; Acoustic Bass; Flat-top Acoustic Guitar; Harmonica SAT Contests for Senior Fiddle; Junior Fiddle; Open Fiddle; Band Scramble; Country Singer; Adult Accordion; Dobro; Bones; Banjo; Old Time Bands; Harmony Singers; late workshops SUN Contests for 2nd Senior Fiddle; 2nd Junior Fiddle; 2nd Open Fiddle; Hank Williams Songwriting; Junior Performer; Kids Accordion; Mandolin; Miscellaneous. The other stages all have spontaneous performances TIPI VILLAGE There will be scheduled shows in the printed program. LOG CABIN There will be scheduled shows in the printed program DOBROTORIUM There will be scheduled shows in the printed program ONE ON THE MOUNTAIN There will be scheduled shows in the printed program JAMMING STAGE all spontaneous music.
DANCES
We carry on the fine tradition of having old-time dances six of the seven nights in the Dance Hall. The old customs were tremendous fun, and it still is. We even provide teachers for those who would like to dance the old dances but don't know how. All kinds of dances too, everything from the Texas Two Step to Polka. Each night is special as the small old-time dance bands provide the music for old time dances, climaxing with the big Saturday Night Sandhills Cowboy Dance featuring the danciest dance band in the west, the Kenaston Family.
SHOWCASES
Over the years we have struggled finding ways for our extraordinary talents of old-time music to be exposed to a larger audience. It's a musical genre largely overlooked by national television and radio, but it is still part of the rural heritage of America. Those that perform this music so very well are among the elite that do a kind of music rarely heard. For this reason, we arranged several shows for the famous theme park Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. Today, we still have many of our talents finding work there. The Crackerbarrel Restaurant was approached by Skip Segatto to do a festival, and that is still happening. The management comes to the festival to hear new talent. Wal-Mart does the same, as does about 25 producers and directors of festivals, venues, and programs from the upper midwest. Our showcase schedule fills up rather rapidly, and we don't guarantee there will be a talent buyer at each and every show we do, but they do concentrate during the showcases because we believe we have selected talent they might be able to use. Any and all talent that wants showcase time needs to apply early on, there is only so much time available, and that means there are only so many that can be selected to participate.
WORKSHOPS
Part of our work with preservation of old-time music is the passing along of the abilities through the oral tradition. We have workshops in just about everything connected to an older acoustic musical art form. Beginning harmonica, banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, bass, piano, autoharp, dulcimer, zither, Dobro, to the most advanced. This is only the short list. If you are interested in a specific instrument or vocalist kind of workshops, most likely it will be available at our festival, at no charge to you, and we utilize the most advanced players and teachers in the genre.
CONTESTS
In the early days of agricultural and rural life, one of the biggest, and most popular entertainment events, was an old time fiddle contest. In Yankton, South Dakota, it became readily known as the 'best' entertainment in the upper midwest. We carry on the great Wilbur & Elizabeth Foss tradition of fine old-time fiddle contests, but we also include contests for just about every instrument ever used by the pioneers and homesteaders. Piano, Clogging, Gospel and regular songwriting, over-50 singers, cowboy poetry, storytelling, yodeling, acoustic bass, acoustic guitar, harmonica, dulcimer, jew's harp, autoharp, hammer dulcimer, fiddle in three categories (Senior, Junior, Open), old time bands, country singer, adult and kid accordion, Dobro, bones & spoons, banjo, harmony singers, junior performers, mandolin, zither, and even a miscellaneous category. It costs $5 per contest to enter. This is used to help pay professional judges. The contests take place on Friday and Saturday, with the finals for some on Sunday night. There is a registration office in the Main Stage building. For songwriting we recommend early registration. The more time you have the better your song. We give away well over $4,000 in cash prizes, awards, certificates, and other usable prizes like recording studio time at Startracker; R&H Studios; and Tesco Productions. Band Scramble even gets five huge pizzas, it's all fun, and it's all entertaining. GOOD LUCK!
