The Old Time Music Ozark Heritage Festival in West Plains, Missouri celebrates old time music and the unique culture of the Ozark Highlands. Different from its rural counterparts, bluegrass and country, old time music has its distinctive sound and makes its own important contribution to the complex palette of what we call indigenous American music.

Musicians, artisans, and storytellers from throughout the state come to the West Plains festival in enthusiastic support of creating a place to listen, watch, interact and honor the old time traditions of our southern Ozarks communities.

Demonstrating the spectrum of art forms from dance fiddling, local jig steps, and gospel singing, to the songs, narratives and ballads that tell the story of a place, to the occupational traditions of blacksmithing, log skidding, spinning and basket making, artists show how these arts are embedded in the experience of our daily lives and how they fit the functional and symbolic needs of our community.

The festival was established and has been supported by the West Plains Council on the Arts through funding by the Missouri Arts Council and the Missouri Folk Arts Program. The festival is being produced through a partnership between WPCA/MAC, Missouri State University-West Plains, the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of West Plains.

Three ideas are central to the festival:

• Acknowledgement of the many able local performers
• The need to save these expressive traditions
• Maintaining a focus of authenticity

The festival organizers have incorporated audio and videotaping sessions for the benefit of the artists and to establish a collection for the conservation of knowledge and awareness of the traditional arts.

For more information, e-mail arts@townsqr.com