This past weekend, people from all over the south came to Pioneer Park in Loachapoka to learn, play and hear music. This year marked the third year of the Lee County Gathering Crew’s Old Time Music Festival.
The festival began Thursday at 10 a.m. with a class taught by hammered-dulcimer player Guy George and ended Sunday at 9 a.m. with hymn singing.
Deborah McCord, event coordinator, said the event had a wonderful turn out.
“Each year we do this it gets bigger and bigger,” McCord said. “I think having the Kenny Chesney concert near town this year also helped because we had a lot of people who had come for the weekend, and they wanted something to do Friday night or Saturday afternoon so they came to the festival.”
McCord said she thought something that made this festival different was the classes.
“The classes given at the festival are very unique,” McCord said. “The Old Time Music Festival focuses mostly on bluegrass instruments, so autoharps, ukuleles and harmonicas are in large supply around here.”
Jamie Stark, senior in building science, plays the ukulele.
“I would never do it professionally, but I like to just play for fun,” Stark said.
Stark started playing the ukulele in high school. He attended his first Old Time Music Festival this weekend.
“I really enjoyed the festival,” Stark said. “I attended Sharrie George’s ukulele class and actually learned great deal. She was a great teacher.”
The festival included performances each night with a class performance Saturday night to wrap up the music-filled weekend.
McCord said she looks forward to planning next year’s festival.
“This year really was a great time,” McCord said. “I look forward to seeing what next year has in store. I am just happy we have the opportunity to educate through music. I hope we can keep doing this for years to come.”
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