By KANDACE MCCOY
kandace.mccoy@register-news.com
FARRINGTON —
Advance tickets are available for the Sixth Annual Horse Creek Country Music Festival, which will be held Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. at the Bill May property.
The festival began as a way to bring a family friend home to visit and entertain, and now has turned into a community fundraising event.
“It started when our friend, Kevin Blake Weldon, came in from Texas and we wanted him to play at the house,” explained Billie Jo Prosise, one of the event coordinators. “But it cost a lot of money to get him here and we decided to raise money and sell tickets for him to sing.”
During that first year in 2004, a crowd of 60 were entertained with proceeds going towards Farrington Grade School. The May family has since continued the tradition — serving as many as 400 people during the festival.
“It just took off from there and each year it got bigger and bigger,” Prosise said. “Now we keep it local so people can see their friends. We’re trying to raise money this year for Farrington Grade School and Relay for Life. We try to keep the profits in the local area for our own people.”
Scheduled to perform this year are Tyson Conner and The Band and Josh Summers and Dustin Wangler. Concessions, 50/50, raffles and a silent auction will also be available.
“This year I think we’ve got a pretty good lineup,” Prosise added. “It’s a family get together, where everyone in the community gets to spend time together. It’s not just for adults, where you need a babysitter — it’s local and you don’t have to travel very far to attend.”
Advance tickets are $7 and are $10 at the door the night of the event. Event sponsors are Green Hills Golf Club, Amish Custom Buildings, Milano Metals Recycling, Peacock Protection Plans, Frey Produce, AgriPride FS, B & E Trucking, Bug Off -Andy Gee, Hayes Leather & Embroidery, Rod Payne Insulation, Tupperware - Loretta Hess and parking by Mike Sandy.
To get to the festival, take Illinois State Route 15 to Harmony Lane, go north through the flashing light seven miles, turn east on Malecki Road for three to four miles, turn south on North Lorraine Lane one mile to Autumn Road and then turn west.
For advance tickets, you may call Prosise at 237-3241, Tracy Stone at 231-5949 or Bill May at 755-9739.
