FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 1, 2013 Contact: Charlee Glock-Jackson – 253 . 857. 5604 or charlee@centurytel.net Olalla Bluegrass (&beyond) Festival Celebrates 22 Years ‘Kick the City Off Your Shoes!’ Saturday, Aug. 17 (OLALLA, WA) The Olalla Bluegrass (&beyond) Festival celebrates its 22st birthday Saturday, Aug. 17 at the South Kitsap Southern Little League field on Olalla Valley Road. Gates open at 10am and the music starts at 11am for all who want to Kick the City off Your Shoes™ Known for its family-friendly atmosphere, kids’ activities and the famous berry pie contest, the festival also showcases some of the best acoustic bands in the region. “We always try to live up to our “Kick the City off Your Shoes” motto,” said festival founder Charlee Glock-Jackson. “It’s a lively, fun-filled day with lots of good energy and amazing music.” OlallaFest brings together a number of community organizations, all playing a part in the festival’s success. “The Olalla Elementary School PTA organizes the kids activities,” said festival chair Larry Davis. “And the Gig Harbor Potters Guild will have a potters wheel for kids who want to learn how to make a pot out of clay. The popular Empty Bowls Project, a collaboration between the Potters Guild and the Peninsula Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (PUUF), will also be back. “We’ll be selling strawberry shortcake and soup in hand-made bowls,” said PUUF’s Hobie Denny, a festival volunteer. “All the proceeds go to FISH, Key Peninsula Food Bank and the South Kitsap HelpLine.” In the afternoon, there’s a ‘round-the-ballfield parade that all the kids in the audience are invited to join. The second line from the Too Loose Cajun Zydeco Band will add a Mardi Gras theme to the parade and Delta Music Experience, headquartered in Gig Harbor, will provide Mardi Gras beads. Internationally known children’s entertainer Jim Valley of Gig Harbor will also perform. Another festival tradition – the famous Berry Pie Contest –takes place at 1:40pm. Anyone who brings a pie – either for the contest or as a donation to the pie sales – will get $5 off their admission price. Festival organizers have reprised a popular event from the past—guided nature walks along Olalla Creek lead by the Kitsap Watershed Stewardship Program. “We’ll talk about the plants, insects and wildlife that live along the creek and also about the impact that humans have on the creek environment,” said Renee Johnson of WSU Extension. But the focus of the festival is the music. And the festival is well-known for featuring some of the finest bands in the West. This year there’s a good mix of traditional bluegrass and “beyond.” The schedule for the day is: 1am Pickled Okra – frolicking bluegrass licks (Seattle) Noon Eclectic Cloggers – festival regulars since Year One 12:45 Top String – talented young whippersnappers (Gig Harbor and Toppenish) 1pm Guided nature walk along Olalla Creek 1:40pm Berry Pie Contest & auction of winning pie 2pm North Country – traditional bluegrass with a contemporary twist 3pm Fern Hill – Gentlemen’s bluegrass in the style of Bill Monroe (Portland, Salem) 3pm Guided nature walk along Olalla Creek 4pm Jef Ramsey & His Good Ol’ Pals – A reunion of festival favorites. Bill Monroe meets the Temptations (Medford, Olympia & Silverdale) 5pm Dodgy Mountain Men – blazing originals – with tablas! (Missoula, MT) 6pm Kiddos’ parade with Too Loose Cajun/Zydeco Band and Jim Valley 7pm Too Loose Cajun/Zydeco Band – Kick the city off your shoes and let the good times role! The Olalla Bluegrass & Beyond Festival benefits the Olalla Community Club, local music programs and non-profit organizations in the South Kitsap / Gig Harbor community. Tickets are $15-$40 at Brown Paper Tickets (brownpapertickets.com) and at the gate. Parking is $3 per car, collected by the Little League. Camping: $10 per night (no hook-ups). Sorry, no dogs allowed. For information visit olallabluegrass.com or phone (253) 857-5604. WHAT: Kick the City off Your Shoes at the 22st-Ever Olalla Bluegrass & Beyond Festival WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 17 – 11am – dusk. Gates open at 10am WHERE: South Kitsap Southern Little League Field – Olalla Valley Road – Olalla, WA TICKETS: $15– adults; $10 – kids 6-16 & seniors; $40– family pass; under 6 – free. INFO: olallabluegrss.com or (253) 857 – 5604 ########## Think globally. Shine locally.