From 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Fort Vause, a three-piece old school bluegrass band from Montgomery County will entertain us. The band features George Smith, Jeff Wilcke and Tim Thornton.
George, the banjo player, has recorded with Jack Hinshelwood and Buddy Pendleton. Jeff, who plays mandolin and guitar, learned about mountain music in mountainless Iowa, but he’s adapted to the Appalachian version quite well. Tim plays bass, but he slipped onto a Black Twig Pickers CD once playing a banjo. Tim has in some years won first place at the world-famous Galax Fiddler’s Convention (the oldest and biggest such festival in the country) playing the Appalachian lap dulcimer.
Nellie’s Cave Park has plenty of seating, a picnic shelter, playground equipment, horseshoe pits, an arboretum and plant walking trail, a restroom and plenty of parking. Bring the kids for a nice day out.
The association will provide fried chicken and BBQ baby back ribs, ice, drinks and incidentals. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share, and bring plenty of cash for the monster raffle!
There will be door prizes and a live bee raffle. President Mark Chorba has already promised to donate a nucleus colony and a complete basic hive. Richard Reid has offered one of his queens.
A special thanks to members Jennifer Lanter, Sue Hossack, April Cortese, Richard Reid and Lynn Tobias for volunteering to set up the food and generally make sure things run smoothly. Thanks to you all! Please consider lending a hand to these folks on the day of the picnic.