Adam Bramburger
Beaver Staff
The sound of trailers rolling into the fairgrounds last week was almost as sweet for organizers as the chords played on stage at the fifth Napanee County Jamboree.
Greg Verner, who organizes the four-day musical showcase in partnership with local musician Lisa Hart said a record number attended this year’s event with more than 200 trailers on site.
“It’s grown every year. There are a lot of out-of-town people, so it brings a lot of tourism here each year. Even the amount of people who come in for just the day was up this year,” he said.
From opening night with GT Harris and The Gunslingers and the nostalgic sounds of The Reasons to the closing session with the classical country stylings of Cowboys Don’t Cry — a set a number of diehards braved winds and impending rain to enjoy — the stage was rocking, showing the high calibre of musicians in the region. In between, there were open mic sessions, 15 different acts on Friday and Saturday, and a Gospel show Sunday morning.
“There were so many good acts over the four days. This started Thursday and as soon as the stage started its as really good all the way through,” Verner said. “I wouldn’t pinpoint any one act, they were all really, really good.”
Logistically, Verner said the jamboree has probably outgrown the treed area behind the Napanee District Curling Club and agricultural buildings it has called home in recent years. He said they had to created extra spots this year. In the future, to expand, there may be a need to look north toward the ball diamonds.
“We may have to co-ordinate with baseball. It could be done,” Verner said. “We don’t want to make a giant expansion, but we want to expand to have better sites and flatter sites.”
Hart said this year there were more of a walk-up local audience than ever. One reason might have been a co-ordination with the Garrett Mills Foundation to host the Miss Cherry Pie pin-up contest, a fun activity that required participants to dress like classic calendar pin-up girls. The offbeat activity raised $2,500 for the foundation as Mills’ dad, radio personality Buzz Collins, emceed an afternoon of entertainment.
Verner said each year the jamboree chooses a local charity to help.
Thursday night, another new addition this year was a big hit with the crowd. The organizers raised money for a 32-foot-square wooden dance floor. Verner said some joked about the size, but the decision was quickly vindicated when one couldn’t find an open space as people swayed to The Reasons’ classic rock.
“The people want to dance, but they’re older. It’s hard on the uneven ground. We did a smaller version here last year and it went over like hotcakes.
“A bunch of people did a fundraiser last year and it raised over $3,000.”
The floor is portable and it will be taken to a country jamboree and a ‘50s and ‘60s music festival in Prince Edward County later this summer.
Hart also credited the many volunteers who worked throughout the week to make the show happen.