Annual Pioneer Fall Festival is Sunday

WAITSBURG – This year’s Pioneer Fall Festival on Sunday is shaping up nicely, with plenty of fun in store for all who attend.

The event kicks off with a nondenominational church service on the Bruce House Lawn at 11 a.m. followed by Pioneer of the Year awards at noon. This year’s recipients are Bob Patton and Dona Jean Smith.

Judging for the First Annual Pie-Oneer Fall Festival Pie Tasting contest will take place right after the awards ceremony at 12:15, as the festival officially opens.

Big stage musical entertainment includes Grandma & The Boys, a fun old-time band featuring Jo Shay on the mandolin and guitar; Waitsburg’s local bluegrass band, Switchgrass; the Waitsburg Women’s Trio; and The Waitsburg Quartet.

Jimmy Turner and his daughter plan to perform if Jimmy (a firefighter) isn’t called away on a fire. The traditional vintage style show will take place at 2 p.m., followed by a short bluegrass set performed by the three youngest Kuykendall Kids at 3 p.m.

The popular Walla Walla band bIG fONT, which performed downtown during Mumford & Son’s recent Gentleman of the Road tour in Walla Walla, will wrap up the stage entertainment at 3:15. Trio musicians Thacher Carter, Bob Johnston, and 93-year-old Val “The Don” Valiante will serve up their unique acoustic amalgamation of blues, country, classic rock, jazz, swing and bluegrass.

The Q Wood Fired Grill, the Whoopemup Café, and L&B Kitchens will provide plenty of good food and several service organizations will be on hand with beverages, ice cream and assorted treats.

The Bruce House Museum, the Carriage House, the Wilson-Phillips House, and the Wilson-Phillips Garage, will all be open to the public. Piano players and vocalists will perform throughout the afternoon in the Bruce House parlor and a bluegrass jam will take place near the front porch of the Wilson-Phillips House from noon to 3 p.m.

Pioneer Fall Festival Schedule

10:30 Pies Delivered to Fall Festival

11:00 Community Church Service

12:00 Pioneer of the Year Awards (Bob Patton & Dona Jean Smith)

12:15 Grandma & The Boys

12:45 Switchgrass

1:15 The Turner Clan

1:45 Waitsburg Women’s Trio

2:00 Waitsburg Quartet

2:15 Vintage Style Show

3:00 Kuykendall Kids

3:15 bIG fONT