50th OHIO GOURD SHOW
Show theme: "50 Years of Gourds"

Pre-show Workshops on Friday, September 28, 2012

Show Hours
Saturday, September 29, 2012:  9 AM to 5 PM
Sunday, September 30, 2012:  9 AM to 4 PM

at the Darke County Fairgrounds, Greenville, Ohio

Fifty years is a long time, but a mere “twinkling of an eye” when shared with someone you love.” Time shared with an activity you love can seem similarly short. The Ohio Gourd Society is hosting its 50th Show; and it is looking back on the good times past, and forward to the times to come. Celebrate the anniversary, the memories and the times to come with creative and festive gourd art.

Welcome to the 2012 Ohio Gourd Show. The show will be staged in the Coliseum (exhibits, vendors, Sunday Worship, etc.) and Youth Building (workshops and meals) on the Darke County Fairgrounds. Music will be performed at various locations. The fairgrounds are located near the intersection of State Routes 121 and 49 in southwest Greenville, OH. The show is open to the public and the admission fee is $4.00 per person (Saturday and Sunday only). Parking is free, and children under twelve are admitted free.
     Food, gourds, gourd art, gourd music and special programs are featured on the grounds. Programs and presentations will provide information about gourds and gourd art. Gourd crafting opportunities will be available for children and adults without advance reservations. Gourd workshops (pre-registration required ) are offered on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On-site registration for workshops will be accepted as space permits. The Coliseum is not open to the general public on Friday, but outdoor vendors may be open for business. A Friday night buffet in the Coliseum (pre-registration requested ) is sponsored by the Ohio Gourd Society (OGS) and donations are appreciated. The Saturday dinner (pre-registration required) will include an auction of gourds, gourd art, and related supplies. A brief OGS meeting will follow. The Sunday morning breakfast (pre-registration required) will feature gourd hat contests for adults and children. Wear your best gourd hat! Everyone is welcome to participate in the hat contests without prior registration.
     This is a year of celebration. The Ohio Gourd Show is fifty years old! Show your gourds! Everyone is encouraged to wear gourd outfits, jewelry and hats. Bring your gourd instruments and play them. The Show Committee wants to hear the drone of didgeridoos, the banging of drums, the rattle of rattles, the twang of lutes - well, you get the picture!

Ohio Gourd Society Music Programs

Saturday Morning Bluegrass: On Saturday morning, September 29th, Bluegrass music will be featured on the Darke County Fairgrounds. The Ohio Gourd Society is proud to present Rum River Blend (RRB) at the 50th Ohio Gourd Show.
     Rum River Blend is favorite local group known for their variety of music and entertaining style. The group performs a blend of Traditional Bluegrass, Gospel and Folk music and the audience is always encouraged to join in for sing-along, play-along fun. Here is your opportunity to try out your gourd instruments. Currently based in Troy, Ohio, RRB, plays music to have fun They bill themselves as ‘Unprofessional Entertainment’  The band is led by entertainer and musician Linda Tatarian, lead vocalist playing the 5-string banjo. The band is named after the Rum River that runs through Linda’s home town of Milaca, MN.  Her husband, Chris Tatarian plays rhythm guitar and sings back-up vocals.  Linda & Chris are the ‘roots’ of RRB and have been playing together for over 20 years.  The bass beat for RRB is provided by ‘Smiling’ Bill Benning of Troy, Ohio, playing acoustic/electric bass guitar.  Mr. Carl Phillis, also of Troy, joins in on fiddle.  Carl is the 1948 Ohio State Fiddle Champion.  Frequently they are accompanied by Mr. Mark Acton on mandolin. Mark also sings everything from bass to tenor, lead and back up. Put ‘em all together and the result is music that makes you want to tap your foot, slap your gourd and sing along!
     Rum River Blend can be contacted at: 937-440-9834, by Email at music@rumriverblend.com and located on the web at www.rumriverblend.com. The bluegrass portion of the Ohio Gourd Show Music Program was coordinated by Lois Smith, the current Publicity Editor of the Ohio Gourd Society. Lois is a long-time member of the society, a gourd artist, and a gourd vendor.

World Gourd Music (WMG): The 2012 Ohio Gourd Show will feature “World Gourd Music” between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. in the “Ohio Pavilion” on Saturday, the 29th of September.
     Three talented groups will be performing this year. OGADE (The Oxford Gourd and Drum Ensemble) comes from Oxford, Ohio and is available on the web at http://www.ogade.org. This is the 8th time they have performed at the Show. OGADE plays traditional West African rhythms as well as some original compositions. They use a variety of gourd instruments including guiros, shakeres, thumpers, flutes, xylophones, some string instruments and, of course, a variety of drums. The Circle of Rhiannon Tribal Drum & Dance Troupe (http://circleofrhiannon.com) features American tribal style Belly Dancing. They are a group of women from the Hamilton & Fairfield, Ohio area and will be accompanied by OGADE. The third group will be the Judy and Warren Waldren Duo. They also hail from Butler County, Ohio. The duo sings and plays traditional American and Appalachian folk and minstrel music accompanied by Warren on his gourd banjo.
     As a special feature this year, there will be a parade throughout the gourd show (both inside and outside) ending at the Ohio Pavilion where the music program will take place. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the parade by wearing gourd hats, jewelry, etc. and by playing gourd instruments. OGADE will be the last performing group of the day and everyone is invited to play along with them from 4:30 to 5:00 pm on Saturday.
     On Sunday afternoon, a small group known as the Tulisoma will lead a brief “jam session” between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. People who have gourd instruments are invited to bring them to the jam session and join Tulisoma in making great gourd music. At about 1:30 p.m. people will begin a gourd parade over to the gazebo where the “Great Gourd Jam” will take place.
     This year's World Gourd Music program is organized by Larry Sherman who has worn many “gourd hats”. Over the years his gourd hats have won several ribbons at past Gourd Show Breakfasts. Larry is a past President of the Ohio Gourd Society, current 2nd Vice President and co-director of OGADE along with Peter Carels. Larry and Peter founded OGADE in 1995. For further information, Larry Sherman can be reached through e-mail at shermalw@muohio.edu.


The Ohio Gourd Society proudly recognizes and thanks all of the Show’s sponsors, supporters and friends. Special recognition goes to the Ohio Arts Council, the Darke County Visitors Bureau and the Ohio Festivals and Events Association for grants, local support and advertising.

2012 Schedule of Events

Friday, September 28
9:00 a.m. – Noon. Workshop classes (must be pre-registered).
Noon - Gourd entry tags available on the lower floor of the Coliseum.  Exhibitors may place displays and  entries during the afternoon and evening.  Building closes at 8:00 p.m.
1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Workshop classes (must be pre-registered).
6 p.m. – Evening Buffet (donation at the door, but reservations are requested.)

Saturday, September 29
8 a.m. – 11 a.m. Coliseum open to set up displays and entries.  Entry tags available until 11:00 a.m.
9 a.m. Show opens to the public.  .
9 a.m. – Noon –  Workshop classes (must be pre-registered).
10 a.m. – program (see topics at the Show)
10 a.m. - Music with Rum River Blend
11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Judging of competitive entries.(some areas may be closed or restricted during judging)
1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Workshop classes (must be pre-registered).
1:30 p.m. Program (see topics at the Show).
1:30 p.m. Parade to the World Gourd Music show.
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. World Gourd Music.
5:00 p.m. Show closes.
6:00 p.m. Gourd Dinner (pre-registration is required) and gourd auction, followed by a brief meeting of the Ohio Gourd Society.

Sunday, September 23
7:00 a.m. Gourd Breakfast (pre-registration is required)
8:30 a.m. Christian Worship on the lower floor of the Coliseum. Everyone is welcome.
9:00 a.m. Show opens to the public.
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Workshop classes (must be pre-registered).
1:30 p.m. Program (see topics at the Show).
1:30 p.m. Parade to the Jam Session.
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Gourd Music Jam Session.
4:00 p.m. Show closes. Please drive safely!


Links to more show details:



2012 Ohio Gourd Show Committee
Show Chair...........………………....................…………..……Bruce Barber, 740-965-4661
Publicity……………………………...........……..……….………….Lois Smith, 937-447-2845
Workshops.........................Nelson Litzenberg, 740-501-7918, John Martin, 937-446-2174
Entries and Judging ….…….............…………………Karen and John Martin, 937-446-2174
Staging...............................................................Charlotte and Tim Moss, 937-548-0209
Gourd Sales Area Inside……………..……...............................Terry Sipple, 937-548-5003
Gourd Sales Area Outside……………..……..........................Gordon Smith, 937-447-2845
Concessions……………………………….….…….………………Bruce Barber, 740-965-4661
Gourd Dinner………………………….………..….......Marilyn and Terry Sipple, 937-548-5003
Gourd Breakfast………………..….....Abe Martin, 937-446-3624, Terry Sipple, 937-548-5003
Music Program…………………………..................…..…….…Larry Sherman, 513-523-2458
FOR SPECIFIC SHOW QUESTIONS, WRITE TO:
OHIO GOURD SOCIETY, INC.
P.O. Box 664
Greenville, OH  45331
OR CONTACT;
Show Chairperson: Bruce Barber, 740-965-4661
Email: gourd3@earthlink.net