WINSLOW — The L.P. "Tiny" Jarnagan Ballpark in Winslow was filled Sunday with babies and dogs, tie dye, dew rags and blankets with astrology symbols.
The sun shined, and eight bands played rock, country and bluegrass tunes.
It's Winfest, y'all!
Turnout was strong on Sunday afternoon, thanks to sunshine, although everyone admitted the 27-year-old festival isn't what it used to be.
"We're trying to get (attendance) back," said Kymberton Clark.
Winslow, population 400, needs the festival - especially since all the schools there closed in 2005, said Clark, who used to teach in Winslow schools.
"We need functions like this to keep people together," Clark said. He now teaches history in Mountainburg, about 20 miles away.
The youngest fair-goer may have been the 3-week-old baby of Angel Smith, said Jo Ann Kyle, treasurer of the festival committee.
"I don't think anybody admits to being the oldest. I'm not going to," Kyle laughed.
All proceeds from the event benefited the Winslow Community Meals program, which is self-supporting, and possibly the Winslow Museum, Kyle said.
More bands asked to participate than could be accommodated this year, Kyle said. The 2009 bands were Jesse Dean and Left of Center, Blacksmith, Another Fine Mess, Willin-N-Able, Chase Missy, Quinn Talkin, Daedales and Ollie's Trash Can.
Michael Skinner, manager of Quinn Talkin, a country band from Rogers, said he likes the venue because it's "free and easy, lots of people come and let their hair down and have a good time. And there's great food."
During the past year, Winslow lost three 40-something residents who were actively involved with the festival, so Winfest was held in their honor.
Andrew "Barefoot" Cunningham was a "jack-of-all-trades guy" who always helped erect tents and with whatever needed to be done, Kyle said.
"Last year he got donations for a raffle. He was just an all-around helpful guy. I'm the librarian, and he'd show up at the library asking what needed to be done," she said.
Mike Hughes had a band of his own, and used to play music at the festival.
Sheryl Houston "was always here. She helped with the hospitality tent and was an all-around good person," Kyle said. "We never dedicated the festival before but thought it was a good year since we lost three important people. Seems like we got hit pretty hard."
Airways Freight purchased 225 T-shirts, which sold for $15 each and were the primary fundraiser besides donations. The bright purple shirts featured the frogs, raccoons and squirrels that symbolize the festival. A squirrel was the school mascot in Winslow.
Other donors included Spencer Bonding, McBride Distributing and Coors Distributing.
Bill Thompson and Richard Gorder sat in lawn chairs on the north side of the field, listening to a band play an old Johnny Cash song.
Thompson, who's from Rogers but now lives near Kansas City, drove down for the festival and said he's attended many years.
"It's not what it used to be. They used to charge $15, and there were lots more people," Thompson said, though the music is just as good. Thompson said he worked for years pouring concrete for the new Interstate 540 before taking work to the north.
Gorder, who lives in Rogers, said he only saw one little clipping in the paper.
"There's just not the same involvement. I think it's because they don't advertise as much," Gorder said.
News, Pages 1, 5 on 09/21/2009