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Enjoy Some of America's Best Bluegrass Music In Scenic Osage County

Found in the lush Osage Hills, Osage County has the community events, natural scenery, and cultural attractions to turn your next Oklahoma vacation into an adventure for the ages. From fishing to hiking, Osage County has outdoor activities for everyone. The Arkansas River runs along the western border of the county and features ample opportunities for fishing and boating, plus the land surrounding the river is ideal for hiking, picnicking, and camping. Visitors will also find abundant attractions that highlight the area’s rich history and growing artisan community. A few can’t miss cultural attractions include Gilcrease Museum, Osage Nation Museum, and The Pioneer Woman Mercantile.

The Tallgrass Music Festival has showcased a variety of America’s top bluegrass performers over the past 14 years, and it will take place May 31-June 2 at the Skiatook Sports Complex. This bluegrass-themed extravaganza features continuous live performances, an array of vendors, delicious foods, and more. Attendees can listen to live bluegrass performances by favorite national acts such as The Cleverlys, Special Consensus, SpringStreet, and more. Attendees are also encouraged to bring their favorite instruments and join in the spontaneous jam sessions that pop up around the event grounds. Aside from the performances and jamming, patrons can purchase everything from handmade art to artisan foods in the vendor area. Those looking for a meal or snack can buy foods and refreshments from various on-site vendors, and the close-by restaurants in Skiatook offer some tasty options. ResortsandLodges.com interviewed the Executive Director of Osage County Tourism, Kelly Bland, to learn more about this unique music showcase.

RAL: How long has it been running?
KB: This is the 14th Annual Tallgrass Music Festival!

RAL: How many annual attendees do you draw?
KB: It is a two-day event (Friday evening and all day Saturday), and we expect between 500-750 people.

RAL: What demographic does your event cover?
KB: Each year we see more and younger attendees, but they are mainly adult couples over 45. With that said, our surveys show that “all ages love the event.”

RAL: What makes this event unique?
KB: We have some of the best bluegrass artists in the nation perform at our festival. We have on-site camping, food and craft vendors, and campground jamming sessions where anyone and everyone can participate.

RAL: Take me through the activities of a day at the event.
KB: We have shaded seating where you can bring your lawn chair and enjoy the music on stage, or you can walk through the campgrounds and either listen or join jamming sessions. There is also a wide selection of craft and food vendors.

RAL: Will there be any guest appearances?
KB: Our performers are nationally known, and after their sets, they meet and greet with the guests, as well as sell their c.d’s and merchandise.

RAL: What will attendees find for dining options?
KB: There are food vendors on-site, and there are several great places to eat in Skiatook (most of which are approx. two miles away).

RAL: Tell us about the overall atmosphere.
KB: This is a fun-filled family event, the location (behind the Sports Complex) is beautiful. Since it is an outdoor event, we do have a “Plan B” in case of inclement weather. We will move to the event to the Skiatook High School and have the music in the auditorium, dry camping in the parking area, and vendors in the commons area.

RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?
KB: Post Oak Lodge is beautiful! Skiatook Osage Casino has a great hotel, Crosstimbers Marina, as well as Crystal Bay Marina on Skiatook Lake, have beautiful cabins.

RAL: What does this event mean to your community?
KB: This is a significant event for our community. 98% of attendees say that they shop and dine in Skiatook, after the event. Most of our attendees are from other regional cities.

RAL: Why should people come to your event?
KB: Many of our guests have not attended a Bluegrass Festival, and this is the perfect opportunity to dip your toes in the water. It's a friendly event that has great music and great folks.

For more information about the Tallgrass Music Festival, please visit the event website.