Home

All about State of the Ozarks.net • Click here

State of the Ozarks Bibliography

What Others Are SAYING
Also, check out these great articles on State of the Ozarks!


• The Auto Age in Eureka Springs

• Thomas Hart Benton, Artist (from the Ralph Foster Archive)

• Hunting & Fishing in the Branson Area

• Music in the Ozarks (A Word from Louis Darby)

• Family Recollections (from John Tilden)

• The Ozarks Mountaineer: (From the Ralph Foster Archive)

• The Art of M.E. Oliver (from the Ralph Foster Archive)

• Harold Morrison (from the Ralph Foster Museum archive)

• Faith In The Ozarks (From John Tilden)

• Pure Heart

• Cushaws & Cushaw Custard

• The Pirate of Point Chretien (A Word from Louis Darby)

• In Louisiana, 1901 (A Word from Louis Darby)

• The Road to Baker Creek

• Branson History (A Word from Louis Darby)

• Violet Hensley, Fiddlemaker

• Ozark Culture (A Word from Louis Darby)

• The Horse Creek Band (an interview)

• Living On The James (from John Tilden)

• Joe Benjamin, Pen & Ink

• Going the Distance: Wayne Horsburgh

• Mandolin Maker, John Wynn

• Homesteading on the James (from John Tilden)

• Miss Virginia

• Traveling Through The Ozarks, circa 1923

• Cajun Passion: Cedric Benoit

• A Deputy with Heart: Terry Wayne Sanders

• A Jim-Dandy of a Gentleman: Jamie Haage
• Bluegrass Festivals
Bluegrass Festival Listings

A pretty comprehensive festival listing throughout Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois.

Please note, folks - check all information for yourself before traveling long distances.

I am making every effort to ensure the information is correct, but keeping up to date is always an interesting challenge.

If you visit a festival you found here, be sure to tell folks you saw it on State of the Ozarks!
________

ARKANSAS

(SPRINGTIME)

MARCH 6-8: Mountain View Spring Bluegrass Festival (Ozark Folk Center Auditorium & Grounds), Mountain View. Call: (870) 269-2704. Visit: (www) MountainView-Bluegrass (.com).

• MARCH 20-23: Arkansas Fiddlers Convention, Harrison. Call: (870) 741-1789. Visit: (www) Harrison Arkansas (.org).

• APRIL 9-12: Turkey Track Spring Bluegrass Festival, Waldron. Call: (479) 637-3717. Visit: (www) Turkey Track Bluegrass (.com).

• MARCH 27-29: Pickin' In The Pasture (Cypress Creek Park), Adona. Call: (816) 246-0180. Visit: (www) Cypress Creek Park (.com).

• APRIL 17-19: 21st Annual Gospel Festival (Lester Flatt Memorial Park), Vilonia. Call: (501) 835-2451.

• MAY 1-3: Pickin' At The Park (Village Creek State Park), Wynne. Call: (870) 238-3853.

• MAY 5-10: 13th Annual Hope-Homestead Bluegrass Festival (Hope Fair Park), Hope. Visit: (www) Hope Melon Fest (.com).

• MAY 15-17: 21st Annual Gospel Festival (Lester Flatt Memorial Park), Vilonia. Call: (501) 835-2451.

_____

(SUMMERTIME)

• JUNE 2-7: 26th Annual Gospel Festival (Lester Flatt Memorial Park), Vilonia. Call: (501) 835-2451.

• JUNE 5-7: Adona Bluegrass Festival (Cypress Creek Park), Adona. Call: (816) 246-0180. Visit: (www) Cypress Creek Park (.com).

• JUNE 18-21: Turkey Track Bluegrass Festival, Waldron. Call: (479) 637-3717. Visit: (www) Turkey Track Bluegrass (.com).

• JUNE 26-28: 27th Annual Summer Bluegrass Festival (Lester Flatt Memorial Park), Vilonia. Call: (501) 835-2451.

JULY 3-5: Adona Bluegrass Festival (Cypress Creek Park), Adona. Call: (816) 246-0180. Visit: (www) Cypress Creek Park (.com).

JULY 17-19: Adona Bluegrass Gospel Festival (Cypress Creek Park), Adona. Call: (816) 246-0180. Visit: (www) Cypress Creek Park (.com).

• JULY 18-19: 9th Annual Gospel Festival (Lester Flatt Memorial Park), Vilonia. Call: (501) 835-2451.

• AUGUST 14-16: Northwest Arkansas Bluegrass Festival (Beacon Park), Harrison. Call: (870) 426-3477. Visit: (www) HarrisonArkansas (.com).

• AUGUST 22-24: 25th Fall Bluegrass Festival (Cadron Creek Park), Bee Branch. Call: (501) 920-9534.

_____

(FALL)

• SEPTEMBER 11-13: Mulberry Mountain Harvest Music Festival (Mulberry River Mountain Ranch), Ozark. Call: (866) 667-1919.

• SEPTEMBER 11-13: 19th Annual Fall Bluegrass Festival (Lester Flatt Memorial Park), Vilonia. Call: (501) 835-2451.

SEPTEMBER 18-20: Adona Bluegrass Festival (Cypress Creek Park), Adona. Call: (816) 246-0180. Visit: (www) Cypress Creek Park (.com).

• SEPTEMBER 26-27: Arkansas State Old-Time Fiddle Contests (Ozark Folk Center), Mountain View. Call: 800) 264-3644. Visit: (www) Ozark Folk Center (.com).

• OCTOBER 8-11: Turkey Track Harvest Bluegrass Festival, Waldron. Call: (479) 637-3717. Visit: (www) Turkey Track Bluegrass (.com).

• OCTOBER 15-19: Ole Applegate Place Harvest Festival, Bentonville. Call: (888) 404-7478. Visit: (www) OldAppleGatePlace (.com).

• OCTOBER 23-25: 9th Annual Fall Chili Cookoff & Bluegrass Festival (Lester Flatt Memorial Park), Vilonia. Call: (501) 835-2451.

• NOVEMBER 12-15: SPGBMA Midwest Promoters Showcase of Bands (Holiday Inn Atrium Hotel), Springdale. Call: (660) 665-7716. Visit: (www) SPBGMA (.com).

• NOVEMBER 6-8: Mountain View Bluegrass Festival, Mountain View. Call: (870) 269-2704. Visit: (www) Mountain View Bluegrass (.com).
MISSOURI

(WINTERTIME)

• FEBRUARY 15-16: 30th TSBA Winter Bluegrass Music Festival, Hannibal (Quality Inn Suites). Call: (573) 853-4344. (www) Bluegrass Americana (.com).

• FEBRUARY 22-24: 17th Annual Gateway City Bluegrass Music Festival (Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet Hotel), St. Louis. Call: (314) 878-1500. Visit: (www) Bluegrass Midwest (.com).

_____

(SPRINGTIME)

•MARCH 7-9: St. Louis Flatpick (Sheraton Four Points Hotel), St. Charles. Call: (314) 831-6406. Visit: (www) STLFlatpick (.com).

MARCH 14-15: Spring Indoor Bluegrass Festival (Holiday Inn Six Flags), Eureka. Call: (314) 504-2900. Visit: (www) BluegrassAmerica (.com).

• APRIL 11-12: Cross Country Trail Ride Bluegrass Festival (Jack's Fork), Eminence. Call: (573) 226-3492. Visit: (www) Cross Country Trail Ride (.com).

• APRIL 25-27: Gospelgrass in the Ozarks, (Fourche Creek Ranch), Doniphan. Call: (573) 996-2164. Visit: www.GospelGrass.com.

• MAY 1-4: Spring Golden Valley Bluegrass Jamboree (Lester Foster Music Park), Clinton. Call: (816) 544-7111.

• MAY 10 to JUNE 1: Bluegrass & BBQ Festival, Silver Dollar City. Call: (800) 475-9370. Visit: (www) Branson Silver Dollar City (.com).

• MAY 17-20: SPBGMA's 32nd Annual May in Missouri Festival (NEMO Fairgrounds), Kirksville. E-mail: spbgma @kvmo.net. Call: (660) 665-7450. Visit (www) SPBGMA (.com).

_____

(SUMMERTIME)

• JUNE 12-14: Heart of the Ozarks (HOBA) Spring Festival, West Plains. Call: (417) 256-4489. Visit: (www) Heart Of The Ozarks Bluegrass (.com).

• JUNE 13-14: Acoustic Music Festival, Carthage. Call: (417) 358-2667. Visit: (www) PowersMuseum.com.

• JUNE 20-21: 16th Annual Old-Time Fiddlers Contest & Jam (Snyder Music Park). Halltown. Call: (417) 882-6621.

• JUNE 26-28: Prater Family Music Spring Show, Fillmore. Call: (816) 262-1832. Visit: (www) Prater Family Music Show (.com).

• JULY 2-7: Sally Mountain Bluegrass Festival (Sally Mountain Park), Queen City. Call: (660) 949-2345. Visit: (www) Sally Mountain Show (.com).

• JULY 3-5: 23rd Annual Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival (Starvy Creek Park), Conway. Call: (417) 589-2013. Visit: (www) StarvyCreek (.com).

• AUGUST 6-9: Brumley Gospel Sing (Cowan Civic Center), Lebanon. Call: (800) 435-3725. Visit: (www) Brumley Music (.com).

• AUGUST 8-10: Back Forty Bluegrass Festival (Back Forty Park Camp Grounds), Curryville. Call: (573) 324-5437. Visit: (www) Bluegrass Midwest (.com).

• AUGUST 16-18: Prater Family Music Fall Show, Fillmore. Call: (816) 262-1832. Visit: (www) Prater Family Music Show (.com).

• AUGUST 28-31: 40th Anniversary Edition of Bluegrass Pickin' Time (Carol's Memorial Bluegrass Park), Dixon. Call: (573) 759-3544. Visit: (www) Bluegrass Pickin Time (.com).

_____

(FALL)

• SEPTEMBER 6: Southern & Bluegrass Gospel Music Festival (Snyder Music Park). Halltown. Call: (417) 882-6621.

• SEPTEMBER 11-14: Sally Mountain Bluegrass Festival (Sally Mountain Park), Queen City. Call: (660) 949-2345. Visit: (www) Sally Mountain Show (.com).

• OCTOBER 15-18: 41st Fall Festival of Gospel Music (Meramec Caverns), Stanton. Call: (573) 468-CAVE. Visit: (www) AmericasCave (.com).

• OCTOBER 11-14: SPBGMA's 34th Annual SPBGMA Bluegrass America Showcase of Bands (NEMO Fairgrounds), Kirksville. E-mail: spbgma @kvmo.net. Call: (660) 665-7450. Visit (www) SPBGMA (.com).
Cold Sky, Lucky13Studios© Archive. Photo credit, J. Heston.
ILLINOIS

(WINTERTIME)

• FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 2: Shorty's Strickly Bluegrass Festival (Stoney Creek Inn), East Peoria. E-mail: shortysbluegrass @prodigy.net. Call: (309) 671-0175.

_____

(SPRINGTIME)

• MARCH 14-16: Eagle Creek Resort Festival, Findlay. Call: (660) 665-7716. Visit: (www) SPBGMA (.com).

• MARCH 28-30: Northern Illinois Festival, Naperville. Call: (217) 243-3159. Visit: (www) Bluegrass Midwest (.com).

_____

(SUMMERTIME)

• JUNE 6-8: Three Sisters Park Bluegrass Festival (Three Sisters Park), Chillicothe. Call: (309) 274-8837. Visit: (www) Bluegrass Midwest (.com).

• JUNE 24: 8th Annual Wendell Hickox Memorial Family Bluegrass Festival (Fairview Park), Casey. E-mail: spbgma @kvmo.net. Call: (660) 665-7450. Visit (www) SPBGMA (.com).

• JULY 26-28: Backbone Bluegrass Festival, Strawberry Point. Call: (563) 920-2120. Visit: (www) Backbone Bluegrass (.com).

• AUGUST 2: Clinton Bluegrass Festival (Dewitt County Museum). Call: (217) 935-6066.

• AUGUST 23-24: Bluegrass in the Gardens Music Festival (Rockhome Gardens), Arcola. Call: (217) 243-3159. Visit: (www) Bluegrass Midwest (.com).

_____

(FALL)

• SEPTEMBER 10 to OCTOBER 25: National Harvest Festival, Silver Dollar City. Call: (800) 475-9370. Visit: (www) Branson Silver Dollar City (.com).

• NOVEMBER 7-9: 19th Annual Greater Downstate Indoor Bluegrass Festival (Crowne Plaza Hotel), Springfield. Call: (217) 527-7777. Visit: (www) Bluegrass Midwest (.com).
IOWA

(SPRINGTIME)

• APRIL 4-5: 5th Annual Spring Bluegrass Festival (Comfort Suites), Burlington. Call: (319) 752-9541. Visit: (www) TSBA Festivals (.org)

(SUMMERTIME)

• AUGUST 4: 3rd Annual Johnston Bluegrass Festival (Johnston Commons), Johnston. Visit: Johnston Bluegrass Festival (.com).

• AUGUST 24-26: SPBGMA's 33rd Annual Central City Bluegrass Music Festival & Fiddlers Jam (Linn County Fairgrounds), Central City. E-mail: spbgma @kvmo.net. Call: (660) 665-7450. Visit (www) SPBGMA (.com).

• AUGUST 25-31: National Old-Time Country & Bluegrass Festival, Missouri Valley. Call: (712) 762-4363. Visit: (www) OldTimeMusic (.bigstep.com).

_____

(FALL)

• SEPTEMBER 14-21: Annual Davis County Music Festival (Davis County Fairgrounds), Bloomfield. Visit: (www) Bluegrass Addiction (.com).

• NOVEMBER 23-25: SPBGMA 24th Annual Newton Thanksgiving Bluegrass Weekend (Newton Best Western Inn), Newton. E-mail: spbgma @kvmo.net. Call: (660) 665-7450. Visit (www) SPBGMA (.com).


GREAT quotes from GREAT fiddle players!

(LOUIS DARBY)

Missouri has an interesting diversity of music. Even to this day, you will find French-speaking people up around St. Louis. They play French-culture music and Cajun music. The funny thing is it has more of the Old World flavor than the Louisiana Cajun music.
____

(GREG BAILEY)

I didn't start playing fiddle until I was about 20. Part of it was because of my heritage and I had my great grandfather's fiddle. Playing the fiddle and living in this area I got to know a guy named Bob Walsh, who was recognized by the University of Missouri as a one of the masters of old-time fiddle and it had been handed down in his family.
____

(JAMIE HAAGE)

"My first instrument was actually an old banjo that dad found somewhere. I still have it. But I was too little at the time to hold it up like you're supposed to so I played it with a butter knife — like a steel guitar.
____