The outdoors is cooling down just in time for a local music festival.
A Lincoln County family, the Pittsleys, host the Stone River Music Festival.
“It’s just a good family-friendly get-together,” volunteer and the Pittsley’s neighbor Sherri Clark said. “You see a lot of people in the community you don’t usually see, and listen to good music. There are not scenes or fights like you see at other events like this.”
The festival has been an annual event. Its main purpose is for performers and those attending to have fun.
“This is the festival’s tenth year,” event coordinator Vickie Pittsley said. “My son, Dustin Pittsley, and a musician friend got it started and then it snowballed from there. They thought they’d try it for one year and now here we are.”
It is an opportunity to hear live music from a variety of backgrounds.
“We do different genres but mainly southern rock, bluegrass, folk, and red dirt,” Pittsley said.
The one who started the event, Dustin Pittsley, will be performing during the event as well.
“People ask why he doesn’t play more but he wants to make sure other bands get to play,” Pittsley said.
The Pittsley family hosts the event for families. It is not only an opportunity to listen to live music, but it is a place where kids can play in a safe and inviting environment, no matter their needs.
The Pittsley’s understand the particular playground needs some children have.
“The event is very kid-friendly,” Pittsley said. “We have a specific playground for special needs kids. My grand-son, Dustin’s son, is in a wheelchair and can’t walk. Dustin once invited his whole therapy group up for free. He and a neighbor built the playground with four walls for special needs and sensory needs.”
Volunteers for the event, and the Pittsley’s neighbors, Sherri and Bill Clark, have helped the family with the event since they started ten years ago.
“We helped with the playground,” Clark said. “It was important to Vickie and Dustin Pittsley that it be special needs friendly. So we made sure it was tactile friendly for autistic kids and other special needs kids too. We [also] made sure it was wheelchair accessible.”
With all the recent weather, this year their playgrounds will not be the same as previous years.
“This year we lost part of them from the rain,” Pittsley said. “We used to have two playgrounds, now we have one.”
The Pittsleys are not only concerned with having a space to play for children will special needs. They also use the festival as a way to support other organizations.
“Dustin’s son goes to Little White House in Tulsa,” Pittsley said. “Part of the proceeds goes to Little White House and the Chandler High School band.”
Since the festival is all weekend long, there are accommodations for those wanting to stay all night and all day.
“Kids 12 and under are free,” Pittsley said. “There will be food and craft vendors. There is free primitive camping and an RV park connected – that is already filled up.”
Pittsley provided details for prices and how to purchase tickets.
“A weekend pass is $60,” Pittsley said. “Early Bird price is $10 for that one night, or $70 for the night and the weekend. Friday is $30 from 3 p.m. to midnight. Saturday is $40 from 10:30 a.m. until midnight. Tickets are sold at ticketstorm.com or at Diamond Tag Agency in Chandler.”
For those wanting a more intimate experience, they can go early at a cheaper price for one night.
“Thursday the 19th is open for early bird,” Pittsley said. “There will be acoustic performances.”
The festival will be held in Lincoln County, just north of Chandler. “Three miles north of Chandler on Highway 18, on 40 Acres,” Pittsley said. “It is a quarter of a mile off of the highway.”
The address for the event is 343188 East 870 Road.