Annual Bluegrass Festival
Did you hear us tell you that this event is FREE? There will be NO admission charge for attending this event!
We do accept donations, however, so thank you in advance!
17th Annual George Washington Bluegrass Festival Schedule 2024
WIFI GCH Guest: July4GeoWA! Camp Host for the week is Terri Jones
Monday 9/16 - Set up Camp, then Jam! Early Bird Camping starts at noon. DRY CAMPING ONLY. Limited number of electrical hook-ups available at $25 for the week – see Camp Host Terri
6 pm - Hot Dog Meet & Greet at the Community Hall Kitchen, hosted by Debby & Elliot Kooy
Tuesday 9/17 - All-day Jamming!
SHHH! Keep this under your hat! Assemble for a bluegrass FLASH MOB at the GCH, downstairs at the Community Hall at 7:28 pm! You'll be performing for the George City Council, which will be in session. One tune only, please (unless they ask for an encore, of course), the council has business to attend to!
Wednesday 9/18 -
8-9:30 - Gospel Pancake Breakfast at the pavilion, hosted by Terri Jones, Ron Harrington and George Richardson
Cost: either sing a gospel song or listen to one!
7 pm – Setlist Planning session for anyone wanting to be involved in performing for George Elementary students field trip (scheduled for tomorrow at 1 pm)
Thursday 9/19 -
1-2:30 pm - George Elementary School Students’ Field Trip/Open Mic Onstage
4 pm – Open Mic on stage (sign-up required)
5 pm – Open Mic on stage (sign-up required)
6 pm - All-Camp Potluck at the Pavilion (plates, napkins, forks, serving utensils + drinks provided)
Fri. 9/20 - Emcee for this weekend is Betty Lampinen (A.K.A. Olga, A.K.A. Ella Dean, A.K.A. April Butcher…you never know!)
Noon – Roosevelt Road on outdoor stage
1:15 pm - McKean Family Fiddlers on outdoor stage
2:30 pm – FarmStrong on outdoor stage
3:45 pm - Heartbreak Pass on outdoor stage
5 pm – Friends of Larry on outdoor stage
6 pm – Dinner hour
7 pm - Home-made Pie & Ice Cream Social - front porch patio at the Community Hall
8:00 pm – Custer’s Grass Band onstage at the GCH Concert Room
Sat. 9/21 -
10 am - Banjo Workshop Led by Bob Martin
at Jam Circle on GCH porch
- Bass Workshop Led by John Pyles, upstairs at the George Community Hall
- Mandolin Workshop Led by Randy Engle, downstairs at the George Community Hall
11 am - Guitar Workshop Led by Kevin Miller Downstairs at the George Community Hall
- Dobro Workshop Led by Rick Meade at Jam Circle on GCH porch
- Fiddle Workshop Led by Robbie Bennet Upstairs at the George Community Hall
Noon until 1:45 - Open Mic on outdoor stage (sign-up required)
2:15 pm - Roosevelt Road on outdoor stage
3:30 pm – FarmStrong on outdoor stage
4:45 pm – Custer’s Grass Band on outdoor stage
6 pm – Dinner hour
7:30 pm - Heartbreak Pass onstage at the GCH Concert Room
8:45 pm – Friends of Larry onstage at the GCH Concert Room
Sun. 9/22 –
10:30 am - Bluegrass Gospel JAM upstairs at the George Community Hall
Featured stage bands 9/20 + 21:
Please check in with camp host Terri Jones if you have questions regarding where to park. Parking your RV (dry camping) at our festival venue is
free, but if you require electrical hookup, the fee is $25 for the week, and you must park either on the south end of the Community park, parallel to the street, or north of the Community Hall. We request that folks who intend to use generators park at the north end of the park. Tent camping is allowed during festival week.
Overflow parking is now available on the east side of the Microtel, for a fee of $15, see map and more details, below.
NEW! Additional RV parking is available at the Microtel, for a $15 fee, good for the entire week. Please pay the camp host and she will give you a tag to attach to your windshield.
Music of the Pacific Northwest!
The George, Washington CoffeeHouse
Just What Is a CoffeeHouse, you ask?
The idea of a live concert venue called a "CoffeeHouse" refers back to the 1950's Beatnick Era, when small urban cafes because youth culture music and poetry venues for the likes of Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, Joan Baez, the Everly Brothers and Pete Seeger.
The George, Washington version of the CoffeeHouse, which began in 2004, has become a popular monthly concert series that typically runs from October through April. Our audience comes from Yakima, Ellensburg, Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Quincy, Ephrata, Royal City and occasionally even from Seattle and Spokane!
Hosted by (and at) the George Community Hall, the George CoffeeHouse features great live acoustic music by bands from all around the Pacific Northwest. Live Bluegrass, Country, Western Swing, Folk, Cowboy, Vintage Rock & Roll, R&B, Americana and Roots music all find a home here. Enjoyed by young and old alike in an inviting, family-friendly atmosphere, the CoffeeHouse in George makes an awesome cheap date, girls' night out, or an inexpensive family fun night!
The CoffeeHouse concerts happen in a family-friendly atmosphere and all ages are welcome. Admission is just $5 per person, but kids age 12 and under attend for free (must be accompanied by an adult). Refreshments are served at half-time by the George, WA Georgettes. Bands are paid with a hat-pass; suggested donation for this is $10-$12 per person. Concert start-time is 7 pm (unless otherwise noted). Doors open at 6:30 pm for best seating.
2024-25 CoffeeHouse Dates:
Our schedule is filling up rapidly, if your band is interested, please contact CoffeeHouse Director, Debby Kooy
October 19
CUSTER'S GRASS BAND
November 16
CORRAL CREEK
December 7 TBA
December 14 TBA
February 15 TBA
March 15
Terry Enyert and STEELHEAD BLUEGRASS BAND
April 19
The RUSTY BARBED WIRE BOYS
Music Jams
Our
FIRST FRIDAY JAM, happening (oddly enough) on the First Friday of every month, has become the gathering place for musicians and vocalists to play in community, and for audiences to practice music appreciation!
It's home-grown music at its funnest!
Our
THIRD FRIDAY BEGINNERS' JAM, is for less-experienced musicians who want to learn to play nicely with others!
Bring your instrument, a music stand if you have one, lyrics with chords of whatever songs you want the group to learn,
and a smile!
We begin at 7 pm, every Third Friday. More experienced musicians are invited as well; be prepared to help someone learn something new with their instrument or voice. An audience is always welcome at this jam, too!
