West Plains, MO. – The Ozark Heritage Festival is back this Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. It will be held in downtown West Plains on the Civic Center lawn and will celebrate the music, history, and agriculture of West Plains.
The festival will be filled with fun for the family from kid’s activities, to workshops, to good local band performances. This event is free to the public.
The Annual Pie Competition is back for its 5th year in a row on Saturday morning. The youth division for 15 and under will have prize money for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. Sponsor Representative David P. Evans donated money for the $30, $20, and $10 prizes, and 1st place winner will also get an inscribed pie plate. The adult division categories include fruit pies(apple, cherry, key lime, banana cream, etc.), other dessert pies (pecan, peanut butter, chocolate), and savory pies (spinach, tomato, and quiche). Prize money amounts will be $50, $30, and $20 for 1st-3rd in each category and the grand prize winner will receive $100 and an inscribed pie plate.
Traditional Square Dancing will again be featured this year. The square dancing will take place from 7:30-9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night from 5-7 in the Civic Center Exhibit Hall. Andy and Jane Elder will emcee the dance this year.
The Headliners for this year’s music and entertainment include CJ Newsom’s Classic Country with Terry Wayne Sanders and Big Smith. CJ Newsom will be live at 8 p.m. on Friday and Big Smith, a bluegrass and honky-tonk family band, will be live at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
The Festival Performers for the two-day event include Banjo Jack Bowden at noon and 3 p.m. on Friday, Batterton and Edwards at 5 p.m. on Friday, Creek Stink at noon and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dusty James and Abalone Pearl at noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Echoes of Dogwood Mountain at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Anthoney Garner at noon on Saturday, Hellbenders at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Julie Henigan at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Hogmolly at 2 p.m. on Friday, One More Dollar at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Duane Porterfield at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday, Shortleaf Band with Lonnie Jones at 5 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday, Seth Shumate at 2 and 4 on Friday and 4 on Saturday, Lyal Strickland at 1 and 4 on Friday, Stringfield at 3 on Saturday, The Creek Rocks at 6 on Friday and 1 on Saturday, and Cameo Appearances By Amvets Post 98 Soggy Bottom Boys at noon and 5 on Friday and 3 on Saturday.
The Musical Workshops include Harmonica with Seth Shumate on Friday at noon, Folksongs with The Creek Rocks on Friday at 1, Folk Rhythms with Keith Symanowitz on Friday at 2, Ozark Traditions and Old-Time Fiddling with Shortleaf Band on Friday at 3, Finger Style Banjo with Clarke Buehling on Friday at 5, Beginning Dulcimer with Cleo Cuckrum and Naomi Saunders on Saturday at 11, Mountain Dulcimer with Duane Porterfield on Saturday at noon, Play Spoons with Keith Symanowitz on Saturday at 1, Ozark Ballads with Julie Henigan on Saturday at 2, Clawhammer Banjo with Van Colbert on Saturday at 3, Hammer Dulcimer with Stringfield on Saturday et 4, and Fingerpicking Guitar with Dusty James and Abalone Pearl on Saturday at 5.
Finally, the Historic Demonstrations include Dutch oven cooking with Larry Quinalty, blacksmithing with Sid Brink, C.W. Nicholas Float Camp with Rick Mansfield, Mountain Man Era Camps with Ozark Mountain Long Rifles, building children’s toys with Kevin and Cody Sanders, Rendezvous Store with Kelly and Bev Wolfing, and Soapmaking and whiskey making with Cathy and Terry Wyatt.
Kathleen Morrissey visited the station and gave us the following information on the good times you can experience at the Ozark Heritage Festival.
For more information on the festival visit www.oldtimemusic.org.
