Many free events on tap for Buffalo Commons Festival

McCOOK, Neb. — A free “sampler platter” of music and entertainment will be available when the 22nd annual Buffalo Commons Storytelling and Music Festival comes to McCook June 8-10.

While some of the concerts and shows require admission there are numerous events that are free and open to the public starting Saturday morning and continuing through Sunday afternoon.

The public is invited to catch a free preview of this year’s featured storyteller Bil Lep and music group “The Rubber Band” with Zoe Lewis Saturday at the High Plains Museum starting at 9 a.m.

The free event begins with an open microphone storytelling session centered around homesteader stories. This session will be led by Angus Garey, Don Klein and Bill Hoyt.

At 10:30 a.m. award-winning storyteller, author, and recording artist Bil Lepp takes the stage. He is arguably the most widely acclaimed tall tale artist in the nation. He has been called “the Wonder

Bra of storytelling” because he takes something small and insignificant and pushes it up into something really big.

At 11:15 a.m. the high-energy three-girl “Rubber Band” present a free “Vaudeville Extravaganza.” Their humor-filled concerts are fused with an international flavor of jazz, jump jive, Latin grooves, swing, world folk and funk originals.

At 12:30 p.m., the free entertainment continues at the Bieroc Café for an open microphone storytelling session centered around “The Great Outdoors.” This session will be led by Syd Weir and Grandpa Warren Jones. At 1:30 p.m. the Bieroc stage will become a poetry party with Dr. Chuck Peek and Paul Clark.

At 1 p.m. Bil Lep will be at the McCook Public Library for a free storytelling spectacular: “Hilarity and Hyperbole for the Hippest Kids!” This event is open to the public and the show is geared for students in pre-school through elementary age.

At 2 p.m. the public is invited to a free garden party with Senator George Norris and his wife Ellie at the Nebraska Historic Site’s George Norris Home, 706 Norris Ave., built in 1886. This annual event is hosted by Rev. Clark and Dawna Bates, who portray George and Ellie.

The public is also invited to the Bieroc Café Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. for a free “afterglow” gathering following the “How The West Has Fun” Grand Finale.

On Sunday from 2-4 p.m., the public is invited to the free Heritage Cemetery Tour and Memorial Park and Riverview Cemeteries. Tour-goers will get to meet some of the area’s historic personalities as portrayed by actors from the Southwest Nebraska Community Theater Association. This event is also sponsored by the McCook Chamber of Commerce and Southwest Genealogy Society.

For more information, details and a complete schedule of the festival, please check out: WWW.BUFFALOCOMONS.ORG