Musicfest coming to Osceola May 17-18

OSCEOLA - It is almost time for the annual Osceola Heritage Musicfest. This year's event, the 15th, will be held Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, in downtown Osceola.

The Osceola Heritage Musicfest was established to promote downtown Osceola as the center of cultural activities, to preserve and pay homage to the community's heritage and to revitalize community pride and spirit.

The festival will include two days of food, fun and music, featuring 11 bands, food vendors, crafts vendors, the sale of event posters and tee shirts, a motorcycle Poker Run and much more. The Poker Run will be held Saturday morning assembling at 106 W. Hale in Osceola. There is a $25 per bike registration fee, extra riders are $15, extra tee shirts are $15 and an extra hand is $5.

The fee includes one Saturday admission to the festival, one poker hand, tee shirt and a barbecue lunch. First prize is $100.

The festival kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. as local band Timeless hits the stage. At 7:00, The Biscuit Hounds will play. The Eric Hughes Band brings their Blues sound to the stage at 8:15. Ronnie Presley and Straight Shooter will bring their high energy cover classics at 9:45 and at 11:00 the South's Best Party Band" AQUANET will bring their unique sound to the festival. Gates open Friday at 5:30.

Saturday events begin at 2:30 p.m. with the Lowdown Saints. At 3:45 Memphis Blues Legend Don McMinn Band will perform. The Shotgun Billys will bring their Country Sound at 5:16. KID EGO follows at 6:45. Tragikly White, Little Rock's premier sound, goes on at 8:15 and at 10:15 headliners the LoCash Cowboys will bring their high energy Country sound to the festival. Saturday gates open at 1:45.

Adult tickets are $15 Friday and $20 Saturday. Children ages 5-12 gain entry each day for $5. Children 4 and under are admitted free. Adult weekend passes are $30 and if you order on the website eventbrite.com before May 13 you can get a weekend pass for $25.

"Main Street Osceola and the city of Osceola invite you to join us for two days of great live music, food and fun," said Steve Knox, president of Osceola Main Street. For more inofrmation, please contact Main Street Executive Director Susan Fetsch at 870-563-6177 or go to the festival website www.osceolaheritagemusicfestival.com.