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Fifth Annual Oil Country Bluegrass Festival to be held in Oil City on February 24, 25 and 26, 2012 Lineup The Oil City Arts Council and CASA of Venango County, Inc. are teaming to host Oil City’s Fifth Annual Oil Country Bluegrass Festival. This annual event will be held on February 24, 25 and 26, 2012 at Americas Best Value Inn and Suites, ‘The Arlington Hotel’, in Oil City, PA. All proceeds will benefit the sponsoring non-profit organizations. The prior four festivals have been extremely successful. Each year, numerous throughout the region have donated their time and talent; near capacity crowds attended the three-day event; and, many local eateries experienced an increase in business during the festival weekend. Like last year, the festival performances will take place approximately every half hour beginning at 6 p.m. or shortly thereafter on Friday, February 24; by 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 25; and, at 9 a.m. on Sunday, February 26. A band competition will highlight and kickoff Saturday’s performances, provided that enough bands elect enter the competition. The winning bands will receive cash prizes. All bluegrass bands that take part will be donating their time to benefit the sponsoring entities. Ron Shoup comments, “We are fortunate to have so many outstanding bluegrass bands in our region. It is wonderful so many of these bands have participated in our festivals, both to benefit a worthy cause and to bring bluegrass music to the forefront. We are now in the process of seeking additional participation and making contacts with other bands with the hope that they will also participate. This event also ties in nicely with Oil City’s ongoing arts-revitalization efforts and activities. Thus far, bands that have committed to performing at this year’s festival include : The Grand Old Radio, Grover and the Nighthawks, The Pine Valley Boys, Higher Mountain, The Done Inn String Band, Full Steam Ahead, The Keister Family Band, Well Strung, Midnight Drive, Backwoods Bluegrass, Midnight Rooster, the Darl Weckerly Family Band and a newly formed group that includes members Ted McCague, Ray Bruckman and Gordon Neidinger. Individuals seeing more information about the Annual Oil Country Bluegrass Festival may contact Ron Shoup at (814) 676-3465 (e-mail: rshoup@csonline.net.) or Dan Feroz at (814) 677-2373. Most performances will take place on the fifth floor of The Arlington Hotel in the Riverview Ballroom which offers a very scenic view of the Allegheny River. Other performances will take in other areas of the hotel, including some pick-up band performances in the Drake Rooms, lounge and other first floor areas. All performances are open and free to the public. The Oil City Arts Council and CASA of Venango County, Inc. will benefit from monies raised from 50/50 drawings, a guitar raffle, a mandolin raffle, basket raffles, t-shirt sales and donations. Many energetic Arts Council and CASA volunteers will be on hand to help out with the 3-day festival. The hotel management will again be giving special reduced lodging rates for the festival. Food will be available at the hotel restaurant, with dinner buffets being served on Friday and Saturday evenings and breakfast buffets being served on Saturday mornings. A continental breakfast will be served on Sunday morning. Luncheon food and beverages will also be available on site. Fine food is also available at numerous other surrounding restaurants. Bluegrass festival goers can also take the opportunity to enjoy shopping at local businesses, the Transit Fine Art Gallery, Transit Artist Studios and community specialty shops. This year’s festival will be complemented by a juried exhibition entitled “Oil City SoundPalette: An Art Exhibit about Music” that will be held at the National Transit Building Annex and will be sponsored by The Oil City Arts Council, Arts Oil City, and the Graffiti Gallery. The exhibit seeks to provide a glimpse into the expression of music and music related performances as art. For more information about the exhibit, contact Holly Berlin at (814) 673-5641 or e-mail her at hollyjarzenskiberlin@gmail.com. Weather permitting, the Oil City Civic Center’s National Transit Express trackless trolley will be available on Saturday, February 25, from noon until 4:00 p.m., to shuttle festival goers from the hotel to the Transit Fine Arts Gallery, Transit Artist Studio, or possibly to other locations. At the bluegrass festival, attendees will be provided with information pertaining to other activities or entertainment going on in community during the same weekend. Festival goers are encouraged to visit restaurants, businesses, exhibits, the Transit Fine Art Gallery, or other venues offering entertainment.
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Please go to updated events page: www.artsoilcity.com/newspage.htm |
