Grove Festival Is No Second Fiddle

Mark your calendar for the exciting American Heritage Music Festival, June 6-8 at the Grove Civic Center and Snider’s Camp.

Jana Jae presents the 2012 Grand Champion award to ­fiddler Doug Fleenor.

The American Heritage Music Festival will be June 6, 7 and 8 in the Grove Civic Center, with evening activities and entertainment at Snider’s Camp on June 6 and 7. This festival includes Grand Lake National Fiddle Contests, nationally certified by NOTFC, Weiser, Idaho and Grand Lake National Clogging Contests. Both contests’ top prize is $1,000. Cloggers and ­fiddlers from across the United States are getting their contest tunes and dances ready for this exciting weekend of ­entertainment. Register or ­purchase tickets online at www.grandlakefestivals.com.

    The public is invited to the Kick-off Party and Cook-Out at Snider’s Campground just south of Grove on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees on Thursday night and again on Friday night for another evening of delicious food and great entertainment. Admission to the campground entertainment is free. Food will be available to purchase. Great entertainment is being planned for the entire weekend, with ­daytime events and Saturday night concert held in Grove Civic Center and evening activities on Thursday and Friday nights at Snider’s Camp. Jana Jae, founder of Grand Lake Festivals, and her family and friends will perform throughout the weekend, in addition to Jim Garling, Russ Weeks and the Dalton Gang, Duke Mason plus many other talented entertainers.   

    Back by popular demand as headliner, Jim Paul Blair brings Hank Williams to life in “Hankerin’ 4 Hank,” tribute to Hank Williams and his band, the Drifting Cowboys, as they bring the story and hits of Hank Williams just as they were ­performed in 1952, complete with doghouse bass, honky-tonk guitar, steel guitar and fiddle that defined the music of the Williams era. In addition to the authentic sound, Hank’s ­clothing for the tribute is an original creation made especially for this project. Jim Blair directs this group but is joined on stage with talented musicians, ­promising a great show that will create a wonderful nostalgic ­feeling. This show always receives rave reviews.

    On Friday, June 7, the fiddle contestants will begin competing with top-notch musicians all vying for monetary prizes. Cloggers will join the activities on Saturday at 10 a.m. with dancers competing in many ­categories, from Line Dance to Flatfoot Competition.

    The festival’s new clogging contest coordinators, Ken and Lisa Beach, are excited about bringing some of the top dancers to the Grand Lake area. Winners in both competitions will be ­featured at the Saturday night concert. Ken, Lisa and their son, Kevin, will offer clogging ­workshops and demonstrations on Friday, June 7 at the Civic Center. Contact  eat0@eau0eav0eaw0 for more info.

    You can purchase your ­tickets early at First National Bank in Grove or Gallery Southwest, 10th and Main in Grove, by calling (918) 786-8896, or online at www.grandlakefestivals.com. Other festival dates include the Arts, Crafts, Music and Cajun Festival to be held at the Grove Civic Center on July 4 featuring Louisiana’s hottest Cajun band, Chris Miller and the “Bayou Roots” back by popular demand, along with Jana Jae, Clint Walker and other fabulous ­entertainment. Mark your ­calendars because the Grove Civic Center is the place to be on July 4 for a great Independence Day celebration, Cajun style. There will also be arts and crafts booths plus other interesting shopping venues.

    The Jana Jae Fiddle Camp will be held over Labor Day weekend featuring renowned musicians performing and ­teaching in workshops, ­demonstrations and master ­classes at the Grove Civic Center with evening activities at Snider’s Camp.    

    Grand Lake Festivals, Inc., a non-profit organization, is ­dedicated to bringing family entertainment to the Grand Lake area with the assistance of local and area sponsors, Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Oklahoma Tourism and the City of Grove.

For more information, contact

Grand Lake Festivals, Inc.

(918) 786-8896

www.grandlakefestivals.com