This week, a special road trip episode. For the first time, Ozark Highlands Radio visits the legendary Walnut Valley Festival, a four day acoustic music marathon and arts & crafts fair held every September in Winfield, Kansas. Host Dave Smith and OHR producer Jeff Glover sample the menagerie of musical acts we recorded at this incredible event.

The annual Walnut Valley Festival, now in it’s 53rd season, is one of the oldest and most respected acoustic music festivals in the world. Held at the Winfield, Kansas fairgrounds, more than 30 musical acts will perform on four separate stages, presenting over 200 hours of live music. Also, there is a dedicated contest stage where contestants vie for national and international championships in Finger Style Guitar, Flat Pick Guitar, Bluegrass Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, and Autoharp. There is a juried arts and crafts fair, exhibits by renowned instrument makers and music shops, family activities, a bevy of food vendors, a farmer’s market and even a pub! An unusual aspect of Walnut Valley is its campground tradition. Campsites are not reserved and campers line up to claim a choice campsite during the "Land Rush.” Walnut Valley Festival goers often bring their own musical instruments to participate in the sometimes all night campground jam sessions. Bands like Old Sound, that began as "Jam Bands" in the campgrounds, have even been invited to perform at the festival.

Ozark Highlands Radio was invited to the 52nd annual Walnut Valley Festival. It was an unforgettable experience and a total success for us, having been able to record fifteen musical acts including: Nathan McEuen; Sally & the Hurts; RUNA; Special Consensus; Chris Jones & the Night Drivers; John McCutcheon; The Rick Faris Band;; Socks in the Frying Pan; Pixie & the Partygrass Boys; A.J. Lee & Blue Summit; Dave Stamey; Old Sound; Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley; Shane Hennessy; and Bing Futch. We also managed to capture the 2024 Championship Finger Style Guitarists performance and the National Mountain Dulcimer Championship.