Riverfront festival brings out the patriotism with live music

By THERESA HOGUE

Gazette-Times reporter

Glittering strands of red, white and blue shimmered in Julie Searcy's hands as she tried to untangle them from each other. Finally, a particularly stubborn string of red stars extricated itself from the others and she pushed it over her arm, where other strands already hung.

Now, she was ready to greet visitors to the annual Red, White and Blue Riverfront Festival Thursday afternoon, and encourage them to give a $5 donation so they could receive a little patriotic bling for themselves. Searcy has been a volunteer at the festival six years running, along with her husband, Jim, and a whole staff of others ready to keep the festival safe and fun for everyone.

As a blues band warmed up in the background, a crowd slowly began filtering in to the festival, and metal artist Dan McKenzie was making the last adjustments to his tent, filled with custom landscape and garden art structures. It was McKenzie's first time selling his work at the festival.

"I mostly sell it out of my driveway," he said with a smile, but McKenzie has also been selling his work at the Corvallis Saturday Artisans Market, which operates alongside the weekly farmers' market on the riverfront. That's where he heard about the Red, White and Blue festival and decided to sign up as a vendor.

McKenzie retired two years ago from the Environmental Protection Agency, where he was a research scientist. His welded garden art reflects an organic sensibility, he said, and he uses all recycled steel.

A few yards closer to the stage, Tom Johns was preparing for a loud night. The owner of Emerson Vineyards had a successful run at last year's festival, and even sold out on a few types, including the vineyard's pinot gris.

"So I brought lots this time," he said. "Once stung …"

Johns said festivals like this one, and the Sip in McMinnville, were a good opportunity for young vineyards like his Monmouth operation to gain exposure.

"It's a great way to get our name out," he said.

Kimberly Johnson and her brother-in-law, Wayan Suarnawa, were busy stocking racks with batik clothing that had been hand-made in Suarnawa's home village in Bali, Indonesia. Johnson, who also sells children's clothing from the same village, said the family-friendly atmosphere made the Red, White and Blue festival worth returning to every year.

She also liked the combination of activities that came together for the event.

"It's nice to have food, music, sun and jewelry and clothes," she said.

The music had barely begun at 5 p.m. but Scott and Tina Fels of Corvallis were some of the first to settle into the bleachers to listen. It was their first year at the festival.

"We're just waiting for some good music," Scott Fels said. Five months ago, Fels heard musician Creighton Lindsay performing at Big River, and when he saw Lindsay was slated to play at the festival on the Fourth, he decided to check out the other performers as well.

"More than likely we're just going to do the typical (Fourth of July) things," Fels said of the rest of their Independence Day plans. "Have a family barbecue and listen to music."

If you go

Red White and Blue Riverfront Festival, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., downtown Corvallis. Live music: Wild Hog Gumbo, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Caught in the Act, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Creighton Lindsay, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; and The Ty Curtis Band, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Also: dancing, food, kids' activities and craft fair. Fireworks over the Willamette River by the Jaycees will follow last performance. Admission is free, but beads or flashing pens will be given to those who donate $5 or more at the gate. Sponsored by the Downtown Corvallis Association. Information: 754-6624 or www.downtowncorvallis.org.