For the first time ever, for one of the special events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Saxon Lutheran Memorial, bluegrass tunes will be filling the hills with "the sounds of music" -- toe-tapping, knee-slapping, hand-clappning music, that is.  The stage will be filled with music groups that come from miles around; The Punches Family, Fredericktown, MO; The Harper Family, from TX; The Gibsons,  Marquand, MO; Janie Brown and the Chestnut Mountain Gang, Jackson, MO: Opposum Creek Bluegrass with Heather Stortz, Perryville, MO; George Portz Bluegrass & Friends from IL.  The stage will be set in the middle of the grounds in front of the Visitor's Center so everyone has access to hear the music.  There will be plenty of parking to accomodate anyone who wants to attend.  You can come for part of the day or the whole day; it's all one price $15 for adults, FREE for children 12 and under (tictkets will be sold at the SLM, by SLM Council members and at the gate). 

 

 "I am more than happy to be part of your first bluegrass festival and help get the SLM on the Bluegrass slate of festivals."  said George Portz, a very well-known fiddler from IL.    The day will begin at noon with the first group taking stage.  You will get a chance to hear all six groups throuout the day.  The time between the afternoon session and the evening session will be filled with a Friendly Fiddle Frolic with George Portz.  George is very well known and has been playing bluegrass music for over 30 years which has earned him many, many awards and titles in the world of bluegrass.  All throughout the day you can walk around the site and find music coming from every cabin as "jam sessions" find a place to call their own.  We welcome jammers to come to the festival; it's a wonderful way to practice and learn more about the love of the music.

 

There will be several food booths with a wide variety of culinary treats to keep you satisfied as long as you are here. However, if you prefer to patronize our local eateries, they would be glad to serve you.  You can find fine fixins at West End Tavern & Grocery, Frohna, MO; the East Perry Pub, Frohna, MO; Mississippi Mud, Altenburg, MO & the Dip n Deli, Altenburg, MO.  We will even have the outdoor bread oven in operation that day to end your craving for sweet treats by serving good ole' fashioned coffee cake or you may even be able to take home a loaf or two of fresh baked bread.

 

We are looking for business sponsors to help fund this event.  Those businesses who send in their sponsorship early will get their business included in the early advertisements and promotional flyers as an added bonus.   They can choose to sponsor a certain spot on the stage or around the grounds with a sign; call to see about getting a sponsor packet for your business.  Our food businesses have the opportunity to donate food for the hospitality tent which is for the music group's comfort & convenience.  Matter of fact, we already have our first business sponsor of this special event and he plans to make it even more special by the time the night is over.  Rick Hoffman of Cape Girardeau provides the tents for the event and is donating a large fireworks display to close out the evening after all the groups have performed.  He is also the owner of Hoffman Fireworks and will have a bigger &  better  light show from last year that will help get everyone in the spirit for the Fourth of July.  His light show will be in Cape Girardeau near one of his new fireworks stands; more details about that will become available as it gets closer to the event.

 

Those familiar with the bluegrass world will recognize the MABC symbol and presence at the festival, and will get in with their membership discount.

 

Please feel free to bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets to make yourself comfortable for the show.   No coolers will be allowed, however.  This will be a fun event for the whole family to come and enjoy and be inspired.  Especially after you see young children from the Punches Familyand the Opposum Creek Bluegrass group perform, they are all quite amazing. 

 

As a matter of convenience, you are welcome to camp Saturday evening in our wooded park.  The sites are mainly suited for primitive tent camping or small self-contained units.  If you travelwith something larger and it is self-contained you are welcome to stay the night wherever you park.  If you are planning to do this, please call ahead and make reservations with the curator to make sure there is plenty of room.   Accomodations and a special "Bluegrass rate"  have been arranged with the Super 8 hotel in Perryville for those who prefer a hot shower, comfy beds, & a wake up call.  Just let them  know you are in town for the festival and they will give you the special rate.  Perryville Campground has tent sites, RV pull throughs with hook-ups and cabins, and they too are offering a reduced rate for groups of six or more who stay at their park over the weekend.

 

"I can't believe we are finally going to have a bluegrass festival in East Perry County, I"m so excited and the Saxon Lutheran Memorial will be the perfect setting for this," said Tim Dreyer, SLM council member and organizing committee member.  No truer words have been said, the Saxon Memorial will be the perfect setting.  All throughout the day visitors are welcome to take self-guided tours in the cabins and learn about the history of this historic home and farmstead that was established first by Thomas Twyman and his family in 1820, then settled into by Christian and Wilhelm Bergt who were part of the Saxon immigration from Germany in 1839.  The wonderful story of faith, perseverance, sacrifice, family and dertimination is woven throughout all the buildings and displays across the site.  There are 15 buildings (7 are log cabins), a visitor's center & country store gift shop, mules & chickens, 2 gardens, an herb bed, wildflower bed and crops of sorghum and broom corn.  It is a hands-on interactive site that allows our guest's a "no barrier" visit so they can put their hands on history and personally explore the life of being a Saxon pioneer.

 

Our hours of operation through the year are as follows: Sunday, 1-4pm; Monday, closed; Tuesday - Saturday, 9am - 5pm.  We are open for operations March 1 through Dec. 31.  Arrangements can be made for special gatherings such as family pictures, family reunions, senior pictures, weddings & receptions, camping, school field trips,  bus tours, organizational outings and picnics. 

 

The annual seasonal events to look forward to and put on your calendar are: 

Scenic Tour Drive - the last weekend of April (4/30-5/1/2011);

Bluegrass Music Fest - the last Saturday of June (6/25/11);

Annual Fall Festival - 2nd Saturday in October (10/8/2011);

The Live Nativity - closest Saturday to Christmas (12/17/2011). 

Also, the first Saturday of each month the brick oven is in operation for community baking; everyone is invited to bring something to bake.  We have fun visiting and tasting.  And all through the year stay tuned for other special events that will celebrate our 50th anniversary of the Saxon Lutheran Memorial as an historic site. 

 

If you have any questions, want to make a reservation or need directions, please contact the curator, Lynda Lorenz;

573-824-5404

or find us on Face book and be a fan

 

The Saxon Lutheran Memorial is owned by the Concordia Historical Institute, St. Louis, MO; archive arm of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.