For 34 years a privately owned festival has taken place in our fair community of Winfield,Kansas. 12-16,000 people from all states and 20 countries arrive for a 5 day festival. Seventy percent of the people coming through the gate play an instrument or sing, there are five official stages, playing 9:00 a.m. to midnight, and meanwhile uncountable parking lot and camp ground picking going constantly. People meet folks they only see once a year, camping in the same place with very elaborate campground themes,names,decorations, showers, tents, eats,music, etc.. I have seen weddings, a person told me that his first child was conceived 20 years ago at the festival, that maybe was more info than I needed to know. Children run and play and I have never heard a voice of anger raised in the 25 plus year I have attended. One camp was celebrating 30 years of coming to the festival with outlandish costumes, 30 years that's a long time. People bring swings, their own bridges(to get over some ditches), fire pits, refrigarators, etc. etc. Two weeks before the start there are already 2500 people here and by Sunday before Festival there are approx. 5,000 people who have drifted in, many take their vacations every year to come here.
The festival officially started on Weds. (1 1/2 inches of rain), it dried out, the beautiful full moons Friday and Saturday, it all ended Sunday eve at 5:00 p.m. Lots and lots of music. It was a great time, so please just browse, I'm not going to try and do any sort of time line, but the titles will help. It is a great time had by all, see if you know anyone, maybe we'll see you next year!!!!--------ron s.