Folk festival to draw state artists and musicians

The Third Annual Big Horn Basin Folk Festival will be Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 5 and 6, in Hot Springs State Park.

The festival celebrates the handwork and creativity of Wyoming’s own artists, craftsmen, musicians and storytellers. It includes musicians performing at the pavilion, an invitational art show and sale, artisan and guild demonstrations, a storytelling circle, hands-on activities for kids, plus a special event this year — the Wyoming FolkMasters Tent.

The event is open to the public without charge. It is sponsored by Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation and Hot Springs State Park, with support from Wyoming Arts Council, Wyoming State Legislature and Hot Springs Travel & Tourism. Additional support is from Hot Springs County Education Endowment, Thermopolis Community Fund and Pinnacle Bank.

The Wyoming FolkMasters program is sponsored by the Wyoming Arts Council. “For more than a decade, the Wyoming Arts Council has been providing grants to skilled individuals dedicated to passing on their skills to others,” explained Annie Hatch, Arts Council folk arts specialist. “Some are family members; others are just talented individuals who show promise of carrying on the traditions.”

FolkMasters who will be demonstrating are Steve Dabbs (Sheridan), saddles/trees; Marcus Dewey (Arapahoe), beadwork; Gloria Goggles and Jennifer Runs through Lodge (Fort Washakie), parfleche; Leanne Linnell (Riverton) and Brook Miller (Shoshoni), horsehair hitching; Darrell & Tyson Lonebear (Fort Washakie), hand drumming; Tom Lucas (Lander), Bighorn Sheep horn bows; Ernie Marsh, Lovell and James Guyllon (Jeffrey City), silversmithing; Jack Mease (Lander) and Mila Ready (Hudson), rawhide braiding; Von Ringler and Alex Whistler (Powell), leatherwork.

Musicians performing in the Hot Springs State Park Pavilion include Mount Sinai Synagogue Dancers (Cheyenne), Jewish/Israeli dance; Connie Dover (Sunlight Basin), traditional Celtic; Heaven Bound (Basin), Sunday morning gospel; Darrell Lonebear, Northern Arapaho (Wind River Reservation), hand-drumming; Miss V, “Gypsy Cowbelle” (Thermopolis), traditional & original country, banjo & guitar; Dave Munsick and the Little Big Band (Sheridan), country cowboy; Rattlesnake Ridge (Worland), country/rock/blues; Jared Rogerson (Pinedale), country/Americana/Western/folk; Round the Bend (Laramie), traditional American & European folk; and Whiskey Slaps (Laramie), traditional with contemporary picking & harmonies.

The storytelling circle will be open 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Storytellers participating in the round robin events are David Romtvedt (Buffalo); Michelle King (Basin); Catherine Ringler (Powell); Marilyn Braaten (Thermopolis); Jennisen Lucas (Cody); and Darrah Perez (Wind River Reservation).

Others who will make appearances include Echo Klaproth (Shoshoni), former Wyoming poet laureate; Miss V, the Gypsy Cowbelle (Thermopolis); and Micah Schweizer (Laramie), Wyoming Public Radio. Hot Springs Friends of the Library will have a special presentation with Thermopolis Middle School students on Sunday at noon.

Other demonstrations will be held by the Worland Wyoming Woodturners Group; Wild West Rug Hookers Guild; Smoking Waters Art Guild; and Red Dirt Master Gardeners.

The Kiwanis Trading Post will include other arts and crafts for sale as well as the Food Court. It runs 9 am-5 pm Saturday and Sunday.

The festival is the same weekend as the Gift of the Waters Pageant Days. The pageant tells how the hot springs were given to the state by the Native Americans on the Wind River Reservation. It will be 6-7 p.m. in the area around the Big Spring, Saturday and Sunday evening.

For more details, check out http://www.wyomingfolkfestival.com.