Hundreds gather for 12th annual Pickin’ in Parsons at Five River Campground. The event kicked off Wednesday and attracted folks from all across the United States who enjoy bluegrass music. Blue Highway gets toes tapping Saturday during their noon performance.
By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
PARSONS – Thousands of bluegrass music fans flocked to Parsons last week to hear what has been said as one of the best bluegrass festivals in the United States. 20 well-known bluegrass music groups performed at Five River Campground while fans sang along, tapped their toes and clapped along with their favorite music. Five River Campground owners John and Joyce Bowers added many new additions and updated the facility since last year’s festival.
“We used to rent tents, and now we have an 80’x 120’ pavilion we built in June,” “We also built a new merchandise store. It used to be really small, and now it’s really big and gorgeous – we added a stage extension and added more campsites.”
Pickin’ in Parsons offers many talented bluegrass bands spanning four days, as well as lots of family oriented activities including an ice cream social.
“We have an auction and duck races,” Joyce Bowers said. “We had an auction and the day we did the fair, we raised funds for the Central West Virginia Pregnancy Crisis Center.”
Joyce Bowers said Pickin’ in Parsons is all about the music and having fun.
“We normally have about 3,000 participants who attend the shows,” Joyce Bowers said. “We do giveaways of hats and T-shirts and in order to enter into that prize, we have participants put their names on the back of receipts from area hotels, restaurants, gas stations and stores – last year we collected more than $16,000 receipts just from establishments in Parsons. Of course, you don’t get all of the receipts – not everyone participates in the giveaways – but we figure we get nearly 50 percent, so it has a large financial impact on the area.”
Joyce Bowers said the line-up of performers for 2015 was probably one of the best on the east coast. “We are expecting a record crowd – our presale of tickets is 20 percent higher than any past year.”
Debra Landon said she has been attending Pickin’ in Parsons for many years so she can get out of the Texas heat. She said she and her husband came up years ago and worked on the windmill project and Five River Campground was the only campground in the area open during the winter.
“We stayed here for a couple of years while working on the project,” Landon said. “We just loved Joyce, Little John and Big John, and the people of West Virginia. We love the mountains and the beautiful music.”
Landon said she loves Pickin’ in Parsons, adding they offer a great assortment of musicians. “I am particularly fond of the gospel music.
“We live in Texas and come to West Virginia for three or four months in the summers now,” Landon said. “We have been attending the Pickin’ in Parsons Bluegrass Festival for years.”
Another couple attending the music festival said they were at Pickin’ in Parsons because they are visiting the area for work purposes.
“We are not here for the festival, exactly – I am working in the area,” said Tony Birchfield. “We are from Northeast Tennessee. We are working up at the power plant in Bayard taking it apart.”
Gina Birchfield said they are living in the campground and that is what brought them to Pickin’ in Parsons.
“We have really enjoyed attending the concerts,” Tony Birchfield said. “It is so enjoyable, and has been great fun. One of our favorite groups, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, will be here tonight. We have some of their CDs.
“Who would have thought we would find all this?” Gina Birchfield said. “We came for a job and the find out they are doing all of this. It is great!”
Manning the gate and welcoming those attending Pickin’ in Parsons was Eugene Sandy of Ohio. He said he has been helping out since 2010.
“I enjoy sitting and listening to the music,” Sandy said. “I am a big bluegrass fan. I come to the campground and stay from April to October. I like all of the bands that come here. Pickin’ in Parsons offers the best there is. In my opinion, this is the best bluegrass festival in the country.”
Bands performing Wednesday were The Hillbilly Gypsies, Feller & Hill and the Bluegrass Buckaroos, Phillip Steinmetz, The Spinney Brothers and The Gibson Brothers. Thursday, audience members heard Little Roy & Lizzy, Adkins & Loudermilk, Don Rigsby & Midnight Call, The Grascals and Larry Cordle & LST.
Entertainment on Friday was provided by The Moron Brothers, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, Lou Reid & Carolina, Dry Branch Fire Squad and The Boxcars. Bands rounding out Pickin’ in Parsons on Saturday were The Bluegrass Bros, Blue Highway, Larry Gillis & Swampgrass, Blue Moon Rising and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.
Additional information about Pickin’ in Parsons and Five River Campground is available on Facebook and online at http://fiverivercampground.com/pickin-in-parsons.html. The Five River Campground is located at 750 Walnut St. in Parsons, and they can be reached by calling 304-478-3515.
