Fundraiser Features Evening of Old Time Music

Visitors to the 2015 Highland County Maple Festival will have a new option for entertainment. An evening of old time music will be held at The Highland Center, as a fundraiser for WVLS and the Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention.  Andy Holmaas, member of the WVLS Community Advisory Committee, and treasurer for the Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention explained.

“We’re doing a joint fundraiser for both organizations – it’s going to be a night of old time music at The Highland Center on the 14^th of March. It’s going to have four bands – the Young and Restless Pickers from Marlinton; Mudhole Control from Pocahontas County; McDowell Mutton Busters; and the Hound Dog Hill Band. It’s going to be $10 admission, and 12 and under is free. Come and have a meal of beef and lamb beforehand at The Highland Center, and then hear some music. It will be three hours of old time music. The food is downstairs, and the music is upstairs.”

The music will begin at 6:00 pm, and continue until 9:00.

Mr. Holmaas gave some background information about the organizations involved.

“The CAC is the Community Advisory Committee – it’s people from the community who put their input into what’s happening on WVLS, and also on Allegheny Mountain Radio. It consists of people who volunteer at the station, volunteer for fundraisers, and it has some volunteer DJ’s, like myself, on it.”

“Well, the Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention, it was a germ of an idea in 2011. Did our first one in June of 2012 – we had six months planning and we had a lot of volunteers, a lot of help doing it, and it was really successful. We’ve had three others since then. We changed the date for this year’s – it’s going to be in the middle of July, 16^th – 19^th. Judging from the comments that I’ve heard from other people, there’s going to be a lot of people here.”

Thea Klein-Mayer, local foods coordinator for The Highland Center, explained more about the meals, which benefit The Center and the Highland Sheep and Wool Producers Association.

“We’re hosting local meat and produce dinners, from 12 – 6 each Saturday of the Maple Festival. We’ll be featuring local producers. The menu this year is slow cooked lamb and beef, roasted root vegetables, rice, beans, maple pumpkin cake, and got dogs and vegetarian options as well.”

For more information about the evening of old time music, contact the WVLS station at 540-468-1234 – for more information on the meals, call The Highland Center at 540-468-1922.