The fourth annual Rio Grande Music Fest will be held at the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Showgrounds in Mercedes February 13-17. The Fest will feature a variety of music and entertainment.
New to the Music Fest 2008 are the Edinburg Economedes High School Grupo Folklorico Jaguar and the Edinburg Parks and Recreation Folklorico Dance Team. Both groups have won multiple awards and will put on a great show that will begin at Saturday at 5:30 p.m. on the main stage.
On Friday a special show featuring the Link Family and Walter Plant is slated for the main stage beginning at 6 p.m. Both will also be entertaining at other times during the week as well.
Dale Howard, a native Texan who is a cousin to legendary country star, Jim Reeves, will be performing for the first time at Music Fest 2008.
The Long Ago String Band that performs at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, will bring their blend of country, gospel and folk music to the stage.
Nashville recording star Barbara Fairchild is expected to make a special appearance.
Musicians who are returning this year include Terry Smith, Cactus Willie, Boxcar Bob, Jim King and the Texas Connection Band. Others include Red Johnson, Joyce and Phil Leonard, Ed Kehler, Paul Belanger and Donnie Young, and many, many more.
Five stages will be in action at the same time. Stage One is hosted by I.W. Henson; Stage Two is hosted by Jim King; Stage Three is hosted by Bill and Linda Hendron. There are open spots on these stages for musicians who wish to sign up each day with the stage manager.
Stage Four, will be hosted by Fred Rasmussen; it is 100 percent open mic. Stage Five, hosted by Bill Dumbroski, is designated for Bluegrass/Acoustic and is 100 percent open mic.
A polka jam is planned for Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. on Stage Two. Contests will be held Saturday morning on Stage One.
Workshops in songwriting, yodeling, and several musical instruments will be held during the week with times and instructors posted at the information booth in the food service area.
The Rio Grande Valley Music Festival is a non-profit organization formed in 2005 to replace an earlier event that had been canceled. The purpose is to continue a venue for musicians to perform and offer good, inexpensive entertainment for Valley residents and visitors.
Festival hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday for a special gospel jam.
A $2 biscuit and gravy breakfast is served everyday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Meals and snacks will be available from vendors.
Admission is $5 per person and parking is $3 per car. Five-day advance tickets that include parking are available from Festival members, the Rio Grande Valley Partnership in Weslaco, or at the gate on Wednesday.
Detailed information on schedules is available at the Festival website, www.rgvmf.com or by calling (956) 373-0130. Schedules and performers may be subject to change at the last minute.