Bluegrass tradition returning to Calico
CALICO • Musicians and mothers will mingle this weekend during the time-honored tradition of the Bluegrass in the Spring Festival this weekend at Calico Ghost Town.
The music festival has been held for decades on Mother’s Day weekend in order to celebrate moms, said Noele Wayne, special events coordinator for Calico Ghost Town.
“It made sense to do something nice for the moms,” said Wayne. “We just want to celebrate them.”
While the music festival has around for years, families will be able to treat their mothers to a new champagne brunch this Sunday at the Calico House Restaurant, said Wayne. Along with the champagne, mothers will also be able to enjoy an omelet bar, fresh pastries, and roast beef at a carving station.
“We did (the champagne brunch) for New Year’s and it was a lot of fun,” said Wayne.
Although the champagne brunch is a new introduction to the festival, the main attraction is the still the variety of bluegrass artists performing throughout the weekend. Some of the prominent local artists performing this weekend include Debby Clinkenbeard and the Chris Stuart Bluegrass Band, said Wayne. Other artists include the Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Robert Richter, The Mill Creek Boys, Windy Ridge Bluegrass band, Debby Clinkenbeard, Scott Gates & Salty Suites, Henry Fencepost, and Jeannie Hawkins and the Bill Hillys.
“It’s pretty much geared toward locals,” said Wayne. “We wanted to make it more about the locals this year.”
Other events and activities include an egg toss, a barber shave for men for “two bits” — $.25 — and gunfight exhibitions, said Wayne.
Although the stores and most of the events at Calico Ghost Town normally shut down at 5:00 p.m., there will be a special jam session at the Campground A Amphitheater on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. where people can relax and listen to music in an informal setting, said Wayne.
Chris Stuart of the Chris Stuart Bluegrass Band said he was looking forward to his band’s first performance at the festival this year. He said his band would be playing a mixture of traditional music and original songs.
“I think it will be a blast,” said Stuart. “There’s a little bit of everything there.”
Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4122 or kjonas@desertdispatch.com
Bluegrass in the Spring Festival
• Saturday and Sunday, open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Champagne brunch: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Sunday
• Calico Ghost Town, 36600 Ghost Town Road, Yermo
• Cost: $10 for adults over 16, $5 for children 6-15, free for children under 5
• For a full schedule of events, visit http://www.calicotown.com/events/
