March 23, 2004

The Calhoun Community College Foundation announces its 2^nd Annual Dumplin’ Days Festival, Friday, April 30 (1:00 – 8:00 p.m.) and Saturday, May 1, 2004 (10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.), on the college’s Decatur Campus.  The festival will feature storytelling, music, and a children’s activity area.  In addition, there will be a “Little Miss Dumplin’” contest for girls 12 years of age and younger, and the “Can You Tell a Whopper” Tall Tales contest.  Rounding out the fun will be a variety of food vendors and arts and crafts booths, and a jamming area for local musicians.

Kathryn Tucker Windham. Miss Kathryn is considered to be Alabama’s premier storyteller.  She is featured on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” every Friday morning, and her famous Jeffery ghost story books are beloved by all.  Kathryn’s often stated desire is “to preserve our Southern ghost tales – the true ones – before they are lost.”   Performance Time:  May 1- 10:30 a.m., 12:00 noon and 1:30 p.m. 

VERNIE & THE SOUTHPAW WITH SMOKE THE WONDER HORSE.  Wild West Show.  See the Best of the West in: Trick and Fancy Roping, Cowboy Poetry, and Bull-whip Artist. Cowboy Bruce Brannen, as a page out of history, invites youngsters to take a trip back in time to the early years of American western expansion. Through stories, poems, and exciting demonstrations of the "almost" extinct cowboy arts. Cowboy Bruce brings to life the days of the big western cattle drives and encourages further individual exploration through reading and research.  Relying on the skills learned as a 30-year veteran classroom teacher, Cowboy Bruce makes history come alive. Learning becomes fun and enjoyable for his young audiences' education and entertainment in one fast-moving performance guaranteed to be a memorable experience.  Performance Time:  May 1 - 11:00 a.m. & 2:15 p.m. 

Rollin' in the hay.  Renegade Bluegrass. This Birmingham, Alabama based band has become one of the forerunners of the American "Newgrass" musical revolution. Their constant touring from colleges to concert halls has taken them coast to coast playing their souped-up brand of acoustic grassrock. They have opened shows for such nationally known performers as Greg Allman and Widespread Panic. The music of Rollin' in the Hay has been described as "Groove Grass", "Renegade Bluegrass", and even "Redneck Speed Metal".  Performance Time:  April 30 - 4:00 p.m. 

The Mike Snider String Band.  Grand Ole Opry and Hee Haw star, Mike Snider heads up a crack ensemble of some of the best country and Bluegrass musicians in the country who love performing heart-felt American fiddle tunes.  Their distinct sound has earned them the title of “best string band in the nation.”  Performance Time:  May 1 - 5:30 p.m. 

Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and instruments if you have them (a jammin’ area will be set aside).  No coolers or pets (except for working service dogs) allowed.  The festival grounds are wheelchair accessible.   

Tickets will be available at the gate each day.  Advanced ticket purchases can be made at Jimmy Smith Jewelers in Decatur and Fred’s of Athens and Ardmore. 

For more information, contact the Calhoun Community College Foundation at 256-306-2583, or visit the Dumplin’ Days website. 

• Dumplin' Days today (photo and caption from Dumplin' Days), The Decatur Daily, Saturday morning, May 1, 2004 issue, p. A1
• Storytellers, musicians, dancers at Dumplin' Days, The Decatur Daily, Thursday, April 29, 2004 issue, p. D2
• Dumplin' Days coverage (interview with Janet Kincherlow-Martin), WHNT-TV, Channel 19, Huntsville, AL, Thursday, April 29, 2004, 4:30 p.m. newscast
• Dumplin' craze, LaWana Swoope's fruit version follows family recipe (article, photo and caption), The Decatur Daily, Wednesday, April 28, 2004 issue, p. E1
• Dumplin' Days coverage (interview with Randy Cross and Sheila Byrd), WHNT-TV, Channel 19, Huntsville, AL, Wednesday, April 28, 2004, 12:00 noon newscast
• Dumplin' Days coverage (interview with Randy Cross and Sheila Byrd), WAFF TV, Channel 48, Huntsville, AL, Monday, April 26, 2004, 12:00 noon newscast
• Dumplin' Days coverage (interview with Randy Cross and Sheila Byrd), WAAY TV, Channel 31, Huntsville, AL, Monday, April 26, 2004, 11:00 a.m. newscast
• Dumplin' Days coverage (interview with Janet Kincherlow-Martin), WAAY TV, Channel 31, Huntsville, AL, Monday, April 26, 2004, 6:15 a.m. newscast
• Calhoun to celebrate Dumplin' Days, The Huntsville Times, Entertainment Section, Sunday, April 25, 2004 issue, p. G7
• Dumplin' Days: Windham, musicians highlight Calhoun festival (article, photo of Kathryn Tucker Windham), The Decatur Daily, Sunday, April 25, 2004 issue, p. C11
• Dumplin' Days will hold second annual event:  Well-known author, storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham to return as speaker, The Athens News-Courier, Sunday, April 25, 2004 issue, p. 12E
• Charlie Louvin, Rollin 'N' the Hay, Mike Snider String Band (Dumplin' Days musical events), The Huntsville Times, Concert Connection Section, Thursday, April 22, 2004 issue, p. C2
• Dumplin' Days events listed in the Happenings Section, The Decatur Daily, Thursday, April 22, 2004 issue, p. D4
• Dumplin' Days are Coming!  Speakin' Out News, Wednesday, March 31, 2004 issue, p. A3
• Dumplin' Days festival to return to campus of Calhoun, The Athens News-Courier, Wednesday, March 24, 2004 issue, p. 5A