Dust off those love beads, fringed vests and flowered headbands — Central Music Festival is going retro.
The second day of the outdoor festival that runs Aug. 14 and 15 near Red Deer coincides with the 40th anniversary of Woodstock.
To recapture the spirit of that fabled upstate New York concert, Central Music Festival organizers will be awarding the festival-goer who wears the best hippie-era outfit on Saturday, Aug. 15.
The prize will be two weekend passes to the 2010 Central Music Festival and a prime reserved spot on the grounds.
As preparations get underway for this year’s festival — which will feature an eclectic musical lineup, including Dick Damson, Amos Garrett, Crystal Plamondon, the Yukon’s Gordie Tentrees, Mississippi bluesman Honeyboy Edwards, Vancouver roots singer Ndidi Onukwulu, the Altai-Khangai group from Mongolia and many others — the event is short of volunteers.
Those who step forward to volunteer will not only get into the festival for free, festival organizer Mike Bradford promises they will “make new friends and have a lot of fun.”
Sponsors are also needed to loan or donate gifts in kind. The non-profit festival’s wish-list includes a tractor with a large mower, a water truck, lumber, plywood, paint and supplies, as well as fencing material. Sponsors will be recognized on the festival’s website and program.
While the event already has a great lineup of food and merchandise vendors, there’s always room for more. Anyone wanting to be a vendor, volunteer or sponsor can go online to centralmusicfest.com
Ticket prices were reduced for this year’s festival, to be held just north of Red Deer and off the C&E Trail. A two-day pass is $55 ($45 for students/seniors), a one-day pass is $40 for any age (kids are free when accompanied by a paying adult) from the Black Knight Ticket Centre or Valhalla Pure Outfitters.
lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com