DATE 01/17/2005 7:15 AMFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
This is part of an occasional series by the Sanpete Country Travel and Utah Heritage Highway 89 Alliance on the people and places along U.S. Highway 89.
Bluegrass Festival Coming to Wind Walker Ranch, Will Benefit Children’s Camp
The second annual Palisade Pals and Wind Walker Guest Ranch Country and Bluegrass Festival will be held Sept. 9 to 10.
The festival will be at the Wind Walker Guest Ranch in Spring City and feature musical performances, food, vendors, and other activities. Bands scheduled to appear include Lost Highway, Blue Sage Trio, Buckhorn Mountain Boys, Ridin’ the Fault Line, Around the Bend and Shades of Grey.
Proceeds from the two-day event go to Palisade Pals, a non-profit organization that provides recreational, educational and service-oriented programs and camps that enhance the quality of life for disabled and disadvantaged children
The festivities begin Friday, Sept. 9, at 5 p.m. The band Blue Sage Trio will perform at 6 p.m. The group mixes vocals, banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica and bass violin and is known for its bringing a unique perspective to the songs of the American West.
At 7:30 p.m. there will be cowboy poetry, followed by a performance by the Buckhorn Mountain Boys, a group known for its tight vocal harmonies and commitment to traditional bluegrass music.
The festival begins Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with “Breakfast with the Bands.” Breakfast tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event. Performances begin at 11 a.m. featuring numerous Sanpete County Bands and cowboy poetry at 1:30 p.m.
At 2 p.m., the band Around the Bend will perform. The group is known for playing traditional and progressive bluegrass music and blending traditional two and three-part harmonies.
There will also be a performance by Shades of Grey, a group that mixes modern, bluegrass and acoustic country music, at 4 p.m., and Riding the Fault Line, a four-member bluegrass band, will take the stage at 6 p.m.
The band Lost Highway will perform Saturday night at 8 p.m. The popular five-member group is known for its unforgettable trio harmonies, instrumental prowess and relaxed, friendly stage manner.
Pre-event ticket prices are $10 for adults, $17 for couples and $5 for children 12 and under. Prices increase on the day of the event. Other festival sponsors include the Sanpete County Travel and Heritage Council and numerous Sanpete County businesses.
Lodging is available at the ranch for one or both nights of the festival. Camping is also available on the ranch property.
The Wind Walker Guest Ranch, which is open year round, is located on 994 acres of land at the 6000 foot level of Manti-Lasal National Forest s hills. Its activities include fishing, mind and body relaxation, horse back riding, hay rides and hikes, arts, sports, games, dancing, swimming, singing, and cowboy poetry and sing a longs. The ranch also runs a number of special programs for children as part of its Wind Walker Children’s Foundation that include incorporating play and activities with learning and therapy.
Palisade Pals was started in 1982 by William Peterson after he lost his sight in a snowmobiling accident. While attending a school for the blind in Salt Lake City, Peterson met a number of disabled children and realized many of them have difficulties enjoying the activities he took for granted as a child. So he started summer camps, which, over the years, have reached more than 10,000 people. Day camps are now held in several locations around the state.
For more information, contact Loretta Johnson at Wind Walker, (435)462-0282 or Palisade Pals, (435)835-0531.
Details about the festival is also available on the Windwalker Guest Ranch’s web site,http://www.windwalker.org . Information about the Palisade Pals programs is also available online at http://www.palisadepals.com
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For more information Contact:
Monte Bona
Sanpete County Travel and Heritage Council
(435) 462-2502