THANK YOU SPONSORS!

MANDOLIN

City of Shelton Mason County Tourism

FIDDLE

Bowers Dental Group

BAND

Dave Bayley Builder’s Choice (Shelton) Jana Burg Castle & Coleman Logging Edward Jones Green Diamond Resource Co. Hiawatha Evergreens iFiber One/ KMAS 1030 Mason County Title Co. Carolyn Olsen Shelton Mason County Journal Shelton Veterinary Hospital Shoppers Weekly Sierra Pacific Industries YSS Dive (Hoodsport)

STAGE

Belco Forest Products Elma Feed & Farm Supply Hood Canal Communications Jimini Paving & Gravel Manke Lumber Mason Count Historical Society Pacific Asset Management - Josh Morin Tozier Brothers Hardware Washington Acoustic Music Association

Contests & scheduling: GREG LINDER (360)898-4581 festival coordinator

Event, camping & vendors: DUANE WILSON (360)426-1782 Kristmas Town Kiwanis LODGING: explorehoodcanal.com

WELCOME TO THE 2021 BLUEGRASS FROM THE FOREST

The Festival is produced by the Kristmas Town Kiwanis, Shelton, with the support of many community sponsors. Thank you! Welcome–we missed our attendees last year and are thrilled to share our 16th annual event with you and your family.

In 2004 Kristmas Town Kiwanis built a restroom as part of a community wide restoration effort at Calanan Park in Shelton. It proved to be a more expensive proposition than anticipated so the group decided to organize a fundraiser to pay for the construction.

At about this time, Duane Wilson (Kristmas Town Kiwanis club member), asked Greg Linder if he thought a bluegrass festival could raise funds for this project. As most of you may know, Greg is a guitar player/singer and plays in the event’s host band, Runaway Train. Greg has performed at (or attended) almost all of the bluegrass festivals in this region, even making a few trips to the International Bluegrass Music Association Festival.

In 2005, Kristmas Town Kiwanis produced their first festival. There was a lot to learn. The first two years the bands were regional, but the bluegrass community supported the event from day one. Attendees have given great suggestions about how to improve the festival, and it has gotten bigger and better every year! It took three years but, with the help from the community and other Kristmas Town Kiwanis projects, the restroom building at Calanan Park was completed. In 2008, Greg proposed that the group take the festival to the next level and sign a national touring band. Cedar Hill, Tennessee, along with regional bands, were signed on for the event. The change was well received and Greg has gradually increased the national groups each year. This festival could not have been possible without the great regional bands who got it started, so Greg has always included as many as possible.

We are delighted to be gathering again in this new outdoor location. We will all miss the cushioned chairs in the Shelton School auditorium, but we're sure you agree that the expanded camping and beautiful location will be a great addition to this year's festival. We will be following all COVID protocols in this outdoor facility and are pleased that we will have over 20 acres outdoor for guests to social distance totheir comfort level. Masks are encouraged when social distancing is not possible. Please let us know if there is anything that cause any concerns.

Thanks for joining us and thank you to all the volunteers who helped make things run smoothly. – let’s play some Bluegrass!