Now I know we just got back from vacation, but I find myself already dreaming about the next one -- our annual trek to Winfield for the Walnut Valley Fest.For the uninitiated, Winfield -- aka Bluegrass -- is the most relaxing place you can go . I know you might think that some of the other places we've been would come out on top, but there's something about camping with no where to go and no clocks that actually allows for relaxation.
It may not have the scenery of Sun Valley or the beach like Mexico, but Winfield has acoustic string musicians... and what's better than that? Not much, but here are a few other cool things about Winfield.
1. Camping in the Pecan Grove. Winfield redefines camping. Sure, we all sleep in tents. But we have a "living room" under the big parachute -- complete with sky chairs and hammocks. And we have a "kitchen." We've gone beyond campfire cooking too. We eat everything from kababs to pork chops. If you want to join our camp -- Less Talk, More Monkey -- just look for Stage 7 (see Split Lip Rayfield playing Stage 7 above) and then head "back stage." You'll find us there.
2. Walkabouts. When darkness descends on Winfield, it's time to grab your flashlight and head out. You'll never know what you'll find. Perhaps an impromptu, acoustic version of Jesus Christ Superstar or a wedding or a game of skee ball or foosball at Camp Woodenhead.
3. Stage 7. One of the "unofficial" Winfield stages, Stage 7 is kind of like our front yard. In fact, the music is often more enjoyable from our "living room" than from in front of the stage because there's not so much competing noise. There's nothing cooler than lying in your tent at night and listening to bands like Truckstop Honeymoon, Loose Gravel or Jeff & Vida.
4. Pickers' Row. The "main street" of the Pecan Grove, Pickers' Row is the place to go to watch (or participate in) all-night jam sessions. Enough said.
5. Massages. That's right massages. During Winfield, they convert one of the barns at the fairgrounds into a massage studio. You can get 15 minutes for $11 -- or an hour for $44! You can't beat that. I've never had a bad massage at Winfield. It's one of the things I look forward to all year.
