Southern Strings 2009 Dulcimer Festival  - BIG SUCCESS!

By:  Beth Johnson – Festival Chairman

 

PHOTOS

Feb 26-29, 2009 was certainly a success when you step back and take a long look at all that went into the making of our 2009 Dulcimer Festival.  First of all the venue was new and much bigger (and that was a good thing) with more room for class sessions and stage performance; however, I don’t think we could have gotten another body in the whole building….but what a WONDERFUL problem that was.  Our attendance topped 300 over the three day period and if it hadn’t threatened rain we may have had many more.

Southern Strings were honored by all the excellent dulcimer groups that chose to join us for the festival.  We had numerous groups from all over Mississippi that have been playing for many years and have players that are very accomplished.  We had groups and individual players from Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Indiana, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida.  What wonderful friends we made during those 3 short days.  We are so blessed for the camaraderie that dulcimer players have. 

I always thought that people who camp are the friendliest people in the world...well now I know it is the people that play dulcimers, both campers and non-campers.  Speaking of campers, wasn’t our Southern Strings Campground crew the best?  The welcome they showed to our guest was purely Southern Hospitality.  Thank the Lord for their help when campers came in from out of town and didn’t have a clue where to go and when to be there.  The Campground host and crew were ‘Johnny on the spot’ with miles of smiles and helping hands. 

Of course we also have to mention our resident Chef – or “Sarg” as she became known.  She did a wonderful job with the meals and one festival goer said she must have been in the Army because he had never seen so many people fed so fast in such a short period of time…only a Drill Sergeant could have done that!  The kitchen crew did an outstanding job in helping and getting everything ready to go and do.

All our membership worked hard to get everything ready to go.  From the registration table to the door prizes and raffles, all were handled with warmth and care.  Even the Bingo Jam was a hit! 

We were very pleased to have several well know performers and soloist visit us during the day.  Many festival goers were able to sit down and talk one on one with these great performers.

The class material and instructors were excellent and we look forward to another year of instructing at the same degree as we did this year.

Our featured instructor and performer, Jeff Hames was outstanding as always and we still can’t believe he can play “Black Mountain Rag” at warp speed…but he does.

Vendors were another special detail to the festival as players were able to make those purchases necessary to keep their dulcimers in top notch condition.  Several folks were able to purchase new dulcimers of their own.

When all is said and done, we the Southern Strings Dulcimers did our best to bring to you the biggest and best that we could offer.  We made lifelong friends and expanded our dulcimer family beyond state lines.  Hope to see ya’ll next year!