We’re here at the world’s largest gathering of hammered dulcimers. Right now the festival is still four days away so lots of folks have yet to arrive.

It’s held at a the Osceola County Fairgrounds in the north central part of Michigan’s lower peninsula. About 8,000 people show up for this event which is truly unique. Hammered dulcimers “rule”.

I just found out that the National Taiwanese Yangchin champion. (The Yangchin is the Far East version of our hammered dulcimer.) She is coming to Evart to learn the hammered dulcimer. She’ll also be on stage Friday night to perform for us.

The festival costs $3 and is a three and a half day experience. Admission includes attendance any (or all) of the 205 workshops, the stage shows (which are plentiful), and access to everything going on on the grounds.

Right now I’m listening to two lovely harps play a duet (Chuck Boody and Martha Kuch).

Next door there are five or six hammered dulcimers, and just a few trailers the other direction from us, a lively “fast” jam featuring the Kaiser Family and Jim Rathbun are playing spirited fiddle tunes.

This morning John invited everyone over for a waffle breakfast. Others brought eggs, sausage, juice, fresh pineapple, orange juice and of course lots of coffee. We had about 35 folks attend. It was a pleasant way to start the day.

Today it’s a tad cool (about 68) and very windy. We’re not complaining. Too many years it’s been nearly 100 without a breath of air. We’ve attended for about 18 years (I’ll have to look up the exact date). I do know this is my 14th year to be in charge of workshops.

It’s a time to be with friends. We all go away with an “over-load” of dulcimer music, vowing to improve our own playing skills.

I’ll write more later this week. We’ll be here until next Sunday (a week from today).