There’s a famous line from a Kevin Costner movie about baseball from a few years ago that says, "If you buil
d it, they will come." That’s certainly what has happened at the Mossy Oak Music Park in Guyton.
This week the Rose and Lanier families are hosting the 33
rd bluegrass and gospel music festival on their family farm. The 34-acre site brings nearly 3,000 visitors who follow and enjoy bluegrass music to the area three times a year.
"In April, in addition to our own citizens, we had folks here from 29 states," said Allen Lanier, whose family built and operate
s the park. "We feature seven or eight of the best touring bands in bluegrass at each festival, and the level of talent brings folks back again and again.
"Our great staff certainly plays a big role in our park being named one of the most ‘user friendly’ in the entire Southeast," Lanier said. "They’re the very best.
"We recently added bluegrass’ Dailey and Vincent for our October festival and have signed The
Nelons on the gospel side for next April. Focusing on the music has proven again and again that ‘they will come.’"
This week’s festival begins Wednesday evening with a covered dish supper and ends on Sunday morning with a worship service and music. The full schedule of bands and other activities is available online at www.mossyoakmusicpark.com
.
Among those performing May 23-28 are Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road, Old
Tyme Way, Danny Stanley and The Bluegrass Gentlemen, Barbwire, Danny Lanier and Blast of Grass, The Jimmy Wolling Band, the Golden Valley Crusaders, the host band, The Lonesome Whistle Band, and others. An "open stage" is scheduled each day that allows local talent to perform with professional lighting and sound on the park’s huge stage.
"We can accommodate more than 500 campers and seat 700 under the covered pavilion and another
1,300 in the concert area," said Rebecca Rose, who books the bands and is general manager of the big, well-groomed family-oriented facility.
The alcohol-free
park is located on Old Louisville Road in Guyton and provides ample parking for autos, a large playground, full kitchen, snack shack, on-site flea market, clean handicap-accessible restrooms, and vendors of every stripe.
Campers need to call for a site reservation, which runs from $15 to $20 per night (tent camping is $5); full five-day festival tickets are $40, daily tickets are $20. Young people 12-15 are admitted at half price, and under age 12 are admitted free. Attendees will need to bring lawn chairs.
You’ll not want to miss this "pickin’ and grinning" Memorial Day week event. For additional information visitwww.mossyoakmusicpark, call 772-5142 or 772-3467, or visit the park at 533 Old Louisville Rd. in Guyton.
