Because all work is done by volunteers, the festival is able to charge a very reasonable $3 gate fee. All workshops, the 16-page program, stage shows, and other festival activities are included for that one price. Camping is $15
nightly. The Osceola County Fairgrounds, Evart, Michigan, is the site of this fabulous event.
Please check the Frequently Asked Questions area for answers to all of your questions (i.e. reservations, what instruments are allowed, what you'll need to bring, etc.) One question that is frequently asked is "How can you tell when the festival will be held next year?" It always starts on the Thursday before the third full weekend. That means that it'll be held July 16th-19th in 2009.
The Friday and Saturday Stage Shows are also ready and you can see the wonderful acts and plan to attend when you'll be able to catch your favorites.
Friday night will start at 6:15 with a Pre-Show featuring a massive gathering of hammered dulcimers.
You probably have questions, but we think we've covered all of the answers. If not, we have several ways for you to find out everything you need to know.
Why not start by reading the "frequently asked questions" (aka FAQs).
You might be interested in what the funfest bunch looked like in 1980 (which we've concluded is probably the date of this photo)!
Click on the above photo to see a much larger image, complete with names.
There's a tradition of assembling all hammered dulcimer players on stage for a pre-show event. Unfortunately no records have bee set since 2001 (when there were 302 dulcimers playing together), but it's a fun time.
If you play hammered dulcimer, you're welcome to join in and play. The 2009 pre-show will be led by Pennye Scheiber. Since Saturday night's stage show is always so long, the pre-show night has been switched to Friday so be aware that the big pre-show is FRIDAY... NOT SATURDAY. Pennye will be making the tunes available very soon so you'll have plenty of time to get them polished up. We want to set a record this year!
It's always fun to review what's happened in previous years.
Photos and copies of previous years' workshop programs can be found in the archive. (It's also a great way to become acquainted with the event, if you're thinking about attending for the first time.)
At the 2004 event there were lots of fun goings on including an amazing performance on the last night in the Swine Barn featuring Gail Schwandt and Linda Foley:
If you have any questions about the festival, feel free to email me.
The first of the festival campers arrive about June 1st (more than a month before the official start.) In 2004, there were 687, about 700 in 2005 and 572 in 2006 (in 2006, gas prices really hit hard). Most of us spent at least a full week on the grounds. The highest number of campers was 748 camping units in 2001.
If you need a place to stay for 2009 and camping isn't your "thing," check with Roger Elkins, the "mayor" of Evart. He has a list of the local motels
and hotels. E-mail him for that information. Ask for the "Motel and Hotel
List".
The earlier, the better. Don't delay. You can always cancel.
The workshops are great and the stage shows are
the best, but it's the jammin' at a caliber that can't be described that makes this event
truly
one-of-a-kind.
Here is some music recorded live at the 2001 and 2003 Evart Funfests!! Hope you enjoy these tunes.
If all this sounds interesting, and you think you'd like to
attend, or if you are an annual attendee and know you'll want to be part of the fun every year, you may want to
subscribe to an e-mail "list" known as dulcimers@yahoogroups.com. The list will help you stay informed of plans for the festival and will help share
information on the event.
The "list" holds a reception the Wednesday evening before the
festival, which generally draws over 100 members of this group. We've held these receptions for eight years.
Click the "yahoogroups" button to subscribe to
the list "dulcimers@yahoogroups.com".
It's a fun, friendly year-round link to Evart festival folks and information.
