Wheeler County Presents the Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival
– All ages are welcome! FREE Admission-
Wheeler County is proud to announce that the 16th annual Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival will be July 1st, 2nd & 3rd, 2016. The Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival has grown from its start in 2000 and is noted for its wonderful rural atmosphere. Wheeler County, with its three incorporated cities, has the smallest population of people but some of the most gorgeous landscape in Oregon. The people of Wheeler County live a slower pace lifestyle than those from big cities but are always up for a good time.
The Festival takes place in the pioneer town of Fossil, the county seat, in front of the beautiful brick courthouse, now over 100 years old. Fossil is known for its peaceful and quiet atmosphere as well as the friendly townsfolk that reside in it. Everyone waves to each other here. In conjunction with the Festival, there is an annual car show that takes place along Main Street. Come check out the pretty cars and stay and listen to some sweet sounding Bluegrass music.
There’s no admission charged for attending the Festival. There’s lodging available ranging from cute B&B’s to working dude ranches and everything in between. If camping is more your style, there’s dry camping and RV parking available at the fairgrounds and dry camping at the grade school, both about a 5-minute walk from the courthouse, and at nearby parks. Concessions sell a variety of food and snacks.
A unique and popular part of this Festival is the “Fossil Song Contest.” As in traditional song contests, only original unpublished songs are allowed, but songs must be about some feature of the local area – the place, people, history, or even imagined events.
Fossil is about a three hour drive from Portland and two hours from Bend. Bring your instruments and your dancing clothes, stay a day or the whole weekend, and be a part of the greatest little festival in Eastern Oregon. For more information please contact Patti Jaeger, phone: (541) 763-2191 email: pjaeger@co.wheeler.or.us.