Mrs. Evelyn White's Christmas Party, 2008 Smithfield, Virginia

Though I have been invited too many times to count, this was my very first visit to Mrs. White's Christmas Party.  Let me assure you it won't be my last!  Mrs. Evelyn White passed away nearly six years ago, but this Christmas Party had become such a tradition that her daughters Darlene Bell, Pat Jarvis and Wanda Griffin wanted to continue to present this wonderful gathering, which by the way, has been a occurring, mainly on the third Saturday of December, for about 40 years.  Darlene told me she couldn't be sure how long, but she said the party has been going on since she was a kid.  Now, she did the math, not me!  Mrs. White dearly loved Bluegrass music and watched over the proceedings with great interest.  I am told she is a member of the same service organization I have been accused of heading up.  She was a member of the Bluegrass Police and she would tell any band that strayed too far from Bluegrass that if they didn't play just Bluegrass they wouldn't be invited back.  As a matter of fact she was called Mrs. Bluegrass.  In the beginning all of the food and drink was paid for and supplied by Mr. & Mrs. White, but as the party grew the expense was just too much to bear, so for quite some time now most everyone who attends will bring some sort of covered dish or dessert.  The food was great and plentiful.  Now, to the music.

When I arrived shortly after 2PM Some Assembly Required  was already on stage performing their own distinct style of acoustic and Bluegrass flavored music.  They announced that they had a CD in the works and expected delivery in time for the Cabin Fever Pickin' Party.  Leo said they would have a CD release party as part of Cabin Fever.  Next up was

 The Willow Creek Bluegrass Band. (I'm thinking I may have the order of appearance mixed up here, but the photos are correct.)  Willow Creek has been working very hard and their performance showed it.  After Willow Creek came the 

Flatland Bluegrass Band.  Randy Grigg and the band present a very pleasant and invigorating show.  Following Flatland was

Code Blue.  Bud and the guys always present a fast moving program of Bluegrass interlaced with a generous amount of humor.  Following Code Blue was a band I was quite unfamiliar with.  I'm glad i got a chance to hear

Roan Mountain.  For a relatively new band these folks had their music down and presented a fine set of Bluegrass.  Harbor Town was up next and gave us a really fun and fast moving set of fine Bluegrass.  After Harbor Town we were treated to an unexpected appearance of the group Salt Marsh.  Not knowing the groups of this area of Virginia I was unaware of Salt Marsh, but from the reception they received they must be a well loved group in the area.  The last group to play was Highway 35.  Highway 35 is comprised of folks from the Courtland/Franklin area of Virginia.  They did a super job and closed out the evening with style.

I'd like to thank Mrs. White and her daughters, Darlene, Pat and Wanda for inviting me over and over.  I am sorry I took so long to show up.  I'll be back next year, for sure!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! From: Santa Claus & The North Pole Boys!

May your Christmas be the very best!

Bluegrass Ramble, December Edition, continued

Most of this "Bluegrass Ramble" concerns the Christmas Party held at the Amelia Family Campground each 1st Saturday in December.

To say it was cold in Amelia this past December 6th would be an understatement.  But, the cold did nothing to diminish the fun and the celebration of Bluegrass and Christmas at the  Amelia Family Campground.  I arrived earlier than in past years and found myself at the campground by noon on Saturday.  There were many already there ahead of me, but there were still many more to arrive.  The music wasn’t scheduled to begin until around 2PM with a very nice line up of bands.

Those of you who have never been to the Hutchinson Family’s Bluegrass Christmas Party may be wondering how bands could possibly play music in an outdoor pavilion if it was as cold as I said it was.  I can understand that, but now I’m gonna tell you how.  John and his boys and their extended families wrap the entire pavilion with Tyvek paper.  This is that strong white paper most houses are wrapped with before siding or brick is added to the exterior.  After wrapping the pavilion they install two gas operated space heaters and by the time the music is ready to start the pavilion is as warm and cozy as can be.

When I got to Amelia I found that I was kind of sore.  I was wearing too many layers of clothing.  I had on so many shirts and sweaters and jackets that my arms wouldn’t hang at my sides but were sort of sticking out a bit.  If you’ve seen the great Christmas movie,  "A Christmas Story" about the kid who wanted Red Ryder BB Rifle for Christmas, then you’ll remember how his Mom dressed him and his little brother with so many clothes they could barely move.  Well, that’s sort of the way I felt.  Because I couldn’t get my arms straight down by my sides my shoulders actually did begin to ache.  But; and this is a very important but!  I was not cold!  No!  I was as snug as that old bug in a rug!

The music started up pretty much on time and wow was it good.  Some of the bands took the time to learn some of the Bluegrass Christmas songs like “Christmas Time’s A-coming” and “Christmas Time is Near.”  The Bluegrass bands changed every 30 minutes and played constantly throughout the day and then there was the food.  Oh ,yeah!  The food.  Skeeter and Carroll Hutchinson were busy stirring pots of potato soup and navy beans, while  Sweet Brenda fixed hot dogs and fried her famous hush-puppies.  Just about every family that came brought some kind of dessert.  I pigged out on desserts and had a lot of fun socializing with friends old and new.

My friends Richard and Cris Morgan from Durham, NC came up again this year and with Ralph and Amy Westfall and Lynette Dooley and Kevin we were warm and snug in Richard & Cris’s motor home.  We jammed for several hours and told stories and lies and once in a while we even told the truth.  But, none of us ever knew exactly when that truth was told.  And, dang it, I forgot something.  Every year I always pass around a big tub of candy canes to everyone in the pavilion.  But, we were having so much fun in Richard and Cris’s camper that I plum forgot about it.  Oh, I went out 2 weeks ago and bought the candy canes and I had them with me in the car.  But, I simply forgot.  I’ll try to remember next year.  Golly, have we got to wait a whole ‘nother year for the Hutchinson Bluegrass Christmas Party???

Yes, we do, but we can still come over to Amelia and help celebrate the 30th year of the Central Virginia Family Bluegrass Music Festivals at the Amelia Family Campground.  Each 3rd weekend of May and August, John, Ferne and the entire Hutchinson clan host these two great Bluegrass events.  As I said this will be the 30th year, so by now you should remember the dates, but just in case, go get that calendar down off the wall and mark those two weekends.  

"NUFF SAID"