Greenfield Rotary Club sponsors 2014 Greene Countrie Towne Festival

Courtesy of www.greenfieldrotary.org

Thousands of people come to Greenfield, Ohio each summer to enjoy the Greene Countrie Towne Festival. The 2014 festival is July 18-19-20 in downtown Greenfield.

The community festival takes place during the third weekend of July, offering visitors a chance to enjoy free entertainment, explore the community’s rich history, renew old friendships and make new ones.

Proceeds from festival events help local organizations to operate for the good of the community.

The Greenfield Rotary Club thanks everyone who attended the 2013 festival that featured all the usual attractions, plus a special tribute to the music of Johnny Paycheck.

This year's events include:

QUEEN PAGEANT JULY 17

The popular Queen Pageant sponsored by the Greenfield Women's Queen Association is scheduled Thursday, July 17 at the McClain High School Auditorium. Activities will begin at 5 p.m. with the Prince, Princess, Little Miss and Junior Miss contest, followed by the Queen Pageant at 6:30 p.m.

JimmyG, the comedian hypnotist, will provide the entertainment at this year’s pageant. According to the GWQA, JimmyG’s show is suitable for ALL ages and has been enjoyed mostly by students and chaperones attending the All Night Party, so this is a chance for everyone to get to see and of course, there will be a few to have the opportunity to be a part of the show!

Admission to the pageant is free.

THIRTY OT 6

Thirty ot 6 is a country/rock band from the Wilmington area. The band plays a lot of different styles of music from Alabama to ZZ Top. Members of Thirty ot 6 include:

Todd Newkirk-Vocals
George Long-Piano and Vocals
Kenny Dean-Lead guitar, Vocals
John Norris-Lead Guitar, Vocals
Lee McCarren-Drums, Vocals
Mike Lowe-Bass Guitar, Vocals
Cody Long-Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

Check out the band's Facebook page, Thirty-Ot-6:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/THIRTY-OT-6/1390910477828367?id=13909104…

DUMBFOUNDED

“Classic rock, garage style” sums up the approach Dumbfounded takes to music. This group of veteran rock & roll aficionados has been enjoying classic rock since before the term was even invented. Much of the band’s playlist emanates from the 1960s and ‘70s, with a newer song occasionally breaking into the set list.

The guys are thankful they grew up in a time when all sorts of music came over the airwaves via the AM stations that provided entertainment in their youth. The members of Dumbfounded like all types of music, and their eclecticism is reflected in their song choices, which range from soul music to psychedelic rock to country to good old pop music.

The members of Dumbfounded include Lanny Bryant and Mark Fisher on vocals, Ron Coffey on lead guitar, George Smith on keyboards, harmonica and sometimes drums, Ron Sexton on bass guitar, and Jeremiah Eplin on drums and vocals and sometimes on guitar.

ROCKIN’ RON

Another Friday highlight will be popular DJ Rockin’ Ron, who has been a mainstay of the Greenfield summer festival for years. His collection of recordings has grown to almost Smithsonian proportions, and the odds are excellent that he can play even the most unusual requests.

In addition to his extensive musical collection, Rockin’ Ron has lots of other bells and whistles, such as machines that spew forth smoke, fog and bubbles -- and enough hula hoops to make a chiropractor smile!

For some years now, Friday at the festival means a Rockin’ Ron dance. Join Ronald Smith and his crew for a fun-filled evening under the stars at the Greene Countrie Towne Festival.

GNG-LIVE

GNG-Live offers energetic and worshipful Christian songs, and some secular ones too. The members have a story to tell but won't beat you over the head with it. And GNG-Live has excellent musicians and singers, making for a joyful experience.

As Tony Colwell described the band's philosophy to the festival entertainment committee, "We will do a concert of contemporary Christian music and some secular songs with Christian meanings. We will have a great time. However, we do not preach or pray. We believe in not making people uncomfortable, just playing good music and having fun."

So prepare to have fun, and enjoy GNG-Live at the Greene Countrie Towne Festival.

BOXER REVIVAL

Boxer Revival is a West Michigan Americana band with a folky bluegrass flair. The duo includes Michael Boxer on vocals, guitar, harmonica and percussion, and Laura Crosswait on violin (fiddle), vocals and ukulele.

The two met in 2008 while performing in the musical section of a Red Cross play. Shortly thereafter, the couple began playing shows together and gradually evolved into what is now known as Boxer Revival. Their passionate, heartfelt live performances have helped them to cultivate a loyal and devout fan base in West Michigan.

This dynamic duo delivers an eclectic mix of originals, bluegrass, Celtic, folk, Americana, and the occasional top 40 (including requests). Incorporating a light-hearted, off-beat humor into their rapport and personalities (and interviews), Boxer Revival lets the music flow from the inside, and the result is a naturally talented and hard-working musical couple that is fortunate to have found each other.

Boxer and Crosswait cite many musical influences, including Mumford and Sons, The Beatles, Kris Kristofferson, Alison Krauss, Paul Simon, Jim Croce, Shovels and Rope, The Avett Brothers and Mason Jennings.

ROTARY AUCTION

Where else can you get some great bargains and also help your community by building up the Rotary bank account? Thanks to generous area businesses, organizations and individuals, many interesting items will be on sale at the auction, with all proceeds going into the Greenfield Rotary Club's coffers to help maintain the Ralph W. Phillips Recreation and Civic Center and finance other worthwhile projects in the community.

Many items will be offered for sale this year, including 10 limited-edition prints by artist Tammy Wells featuring an iconic image that is part of Greenfield's history.

ANTIQUE & CLASSIC CAR SHOW

Approximately 100 antique and classic cars will be showcased at the Greene Countrie Towne Festival. This annual event, which brings together vintage car owners – and admirers – from a wide geographical area, features everything from the early days of automobiling through the “muscle cars” of the 1960s and ‘70s.

Elegant roadsters, speedy sports cars, ragtops, hardtops and sedans all have a place in this show sponsored by the Greenfield Antique Car Club. If you would like to see a showcase of the automaking art encompassing more than a century of history, be sure to attend the Greene Countrie Towne Festival on Saturday.

ANTIQUE TRACTOR SHOW

Antique farm equipment holds a very dear place in the hearts of farming families who once toiled in the fields behind oxen, horses or mules. Those old John Deeres and Massey Fergusons certainly improved the quality of life for both man and beast! Today, vintage farm equipment also harkens back to a simpler time that many people dearly miss. The old tractors were like family members and had their own idiosyncrasies just like humans. Even today they stir memories and spark interesting conversations. Be sure to check out the Farmalls, Olivers, Fords and other stately machines at this year's Greene Countrie Towne Festival. This show is brought to you by the Greenfield Antique Tractor & Machinery Club.

LIP SYNC CONTEST

If you've ever been in downtown Greenfield on the third weekend in July, chances are you have seen the popular Lip Sync Contest. Each year, participants of various age groups showcase their lip-syncing skills and their general creativity. It's not just a bunch of Milli Vanilli wannabes either; the winning performers usually are packaged in creative costumes deep-fried in humor. The resulting event is low in carbs but high in laughter. Check it out on Sunday afternoon.

ARCHITECT TO SHARE VISION FOR PARK DEVELOPMENT

Architect Doug Karnes dreams of ways to improve Greenfield, and has offered up suggestions for new businesses and new designs on his Facebook page, Designing Greenfield OHIO.

The McClain High School graduate, now of Louisville, KY will have a display set up during the Greene Countrie Towne Festival outlining some of his ideas, including thoughts about a “Greenfield Park at Paint Creek” featuring hiking and biking trails, a covered picnic pavilion, athletic fields, fishing piers, mountain bike trails, a foot bridge connecting Highland and Ross Counties, a zip line and even a visitor center! Look for Doug’s display at 317 Jefferson St. in Greenfield during the Greene Countrie Towne Festival!