2011 Flyer

Here it is..............the 2011 version of our flyer. I hope to publish the showtimes on our website soon. Then you will have most all the info you need to plan an exciting festival weekend.
We hope to see you all here in September and hope that you will enjoy the group of talented musicians/entertainers we have lined up for your pleasure. I must say that I look forward to the warm weather September brings as we have had an exceptionally cold winter so far. We're hearing that "s" word in the forecast again. Just last week I went to Denver to visit my daughter & son-in-law and it was warmer there than here. Even though there was a blizzard in the mountains during my brief visit, the weather in the metro Denver area was great. It was so pleasant the morning I returned home, I left my coat there! ha I sure did need it when we landed in Knoxville (cold, drizzly and very cloudy). Oh, well, I'll get it sooner or later.
Many of you know that I have been working on a book the past few months. And I am glad to say that I have finally turned everything in and look forward to seeing the finished product. I hope you all will enjoy it. It will be available for sale during the festival if not before. If it is a success, I may try it again.
I wonder if I could prevail upon some of you to help me find some good reliable vendors to enhance our event. That is one of the hardest things to get lined up. If you are out and about and find someone who has something interesting to offer and you think our crowd would support them, have that vendor contact us. Thanks.
Well, that's about all I have to offer at this time. I am going to do my best to keep this blog up to date in 2011. We hope you will visit our facebook page for ongoing news and also the website for info (I have it on good authority that it is in the process of being updated). Until later, m

Picking & Grinning Weekend

One of the most enjoyable aspects of our festival is all of the activity that flourishes in the campground. That is where you will find the hard core pickers & grinners who pick from the time they awaken until the wee hours. And it is this particular activity that Joe and I are usually too busy to enjoy much during festival week. So, with all that in mind, we are going to be designating the weekend of May 13-14, 2011 for a time to pick & grin in our campground. The campground will be open as usual for any and all travelers seeking a good spot to spend the night. It will just have the added attraction of groups of bluegrass lovers picking into the night. Since announcing the dates this week, we've heard from several of our picking buddies who are planning to join us that weekend. Reservations will only be necessary if you want a particular spot. And the usual overnight campground rates will apply: Nightly rates---30 amp - $25 + tax; 50 amp (limited) - $30 + tax. Don't come expecting the full blown festival atmosphere as there will be no scheduled stage shows or vendors on site. This is just an opportunity to go camping and be able to make the music you love with your friends. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate but if it should be rainy there is plenty of room under roof for picking. We hope to see you here in May. And we hope to see you in September for our 12th festival. Also, keep in mind that our campground is open 24/7 and we are happy to see you whenever you want to come to Dumplin Valley.

Hello 2011

I don't know about everyone else, but I am so glad to see a brand new year. 2010 will not be one of the years that I will remember fondly. Let's hope that 2011 will be a year of good health, peace & prosperity.
How many of you have already broken the New Year's Resolution you made a couple of days ago?? I'm doing good so far but I didn't make one that was too hard.
2011 is off to a pretty good start here on the farm. We have our flyer ready to print (thanks Matt); saw a good movie yesterday (True Grit); ushered in the New Year with good friends; people are beginning to build houses again; I "fixed" my treadmill (don't ask); I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for my book project; I'm enjoying a newly organized closet (thanks Julie); and it looks like I'm going to have time to read a couple of good books.
I'm hoping to complete one of the items on my "bucket list" this year. Can't say which one yet. Don't want to jinx my chances.
On to BLUEGRASS.............with a fresh and exciting lineup, we expect to have an excellent festival this year and look forward to meeting new attendees here at Dumplin Valley as well as welcoming back our bluegrass friends.
I am going to make a better effort this year to get out and see more bluegrass shows as there are several good opportunities throughout the winter for indoor events and then the early spring festivals will fire up. I hope that you will also have an opportunity to get out and enjoy many of the outstanding musicians on the road or in your own hometown. You know.......there are a lot of good venues to choose from. Let's all get out and support bluegrass whether it's a local group or one of those bands racking up miles of blacktop to bring you some enjoyment.
Happy 2011. m