Hi Volks:

We have a festival just outside Winnipeg every summer called the Winnipeg
Folk Festival. It is the largest festival of its kind in North America.

It is now in its 27th year. So, it's well organized. Has showers, toilets,
firewood - all the essentials, you know!

http://www.wpgfolkfest.mb.ca/ (July 6- 9)

It features really interesting music, with both well-known and little known
artists, all are considered to be tops in their respective genre. There are
several stages going on at all times, from large ones to intimate workshops.

Huge evening stages. Plus, there is a childrens festival area, with
excellent activities. It lasts for 4 days.

The styles range from Celtic, to Gospel, to R&B, Reggae, Jazz, traditional
etc. Some with a "beat", some not. Folk music is really music made by people
for people, not packaged by corporations. We get artists coming from all
over the world.

In any case, it really is a ton of fun, is held in a provincial park with
different camping experiences for your tastes. Lots of ethnic food etc.

Liquor, I believe, is banned in the park site for this festival. No random
acts of violence or anything like that, (possession of prohibited weapons is
treated seriously) people seem to have a "glow" during the festival, it's
true!

Therefore, I think it is the ideal setting for a Westy gathering, and a
perfect short summer vacation for the whole family. Winnipeg is about 8
hours from the Twin Cities, I think (in the Mid-West). Plus, our dollar is
now aproximately $1.00 US = $1.50 CDN, so it's cheap.

What I am thinking of specifically organizing this year are Westy Technical
Seminars - as there has been some expressed interest in this.

Some ideas are:

Seam rust treatment,
installing a Digitool;
eliminating "bucking" syndrone;
etc.

So, if you are interested, let me know, and I'll try to get something
organized, (if there is interest). I will also try to point you to good
resources on the Folk Festival. (Volk Festival)?

Cheers!

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy "iron Igloo"