Winter Creek Reunion - Bennington, OK
N 34° 02.188 W 096° 00.460
14S E 776264 N 3770239
An annual acoustic music festival in rural Bryan County, Oklahoma
Waymark Code: WMM9HW
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 08/17/2014
Views: 3
This festival has been going on since 2002. There is no fee charged, but donations are accepted. Camping is available at the festival for a fee, but the RV hook ups usually are taken far in advance. It was started by, and is organized by, the Red River Valley Dulcimer Club -- a club that plays both types of dulcimers, but primarily the hammered dulcimer. However, all kinds of acoustic instruments are played and taught at the festival. Even steel drums. The festival is named after Winter Creek, which runs through the farm where it is held, and is a tributary to the Red River.
The festival is held the second weekend in October. Planned events are held on Friday and Saturday, with a non-denominational service held in the pavilion on Sunday morning. There is often a "pre-festival" event on Thursday. This is often a set of courses that do cost something. Price varies. But from Friday through Sunday it is free.
There are several music jams going at any time. Organized and scheduled classes. Noon write-in mini-concerts are held on Friday and Saturday. Full evening concerts, featuring well-known acoustic musicians, both professional and amateur, are held on Friday and Saturday Evenings. For the last several years, there have been some optional paid meals hosted by various charities, each of which costs a standard donation.
This poster has attended the festival without fail for 6 years prior to this posting, and has watched it grow from a small gathering, to a packed festival. It is held at the farm of a hammered dulcimer builder who is a member of RRVDC. Besides the official festival site (link below) there is also a Facebook page.