Le Mars proves good host for bluegrass fest

Don Spain of Leavenworth, Kan., Kathy Smith of Council Bluffs and Virgil Reichmuth pulled up chairs at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds this weekend to share an impromptu jam session. More than 600 musicians and a total of around 10,000 people attended the week-long festival. [Click to enlarge]

Bluegrass music and fiddle tunes drew around 10,000 people to Le Mars last week.

Sheila Everhart, of Anita, one of the coordinators of the Old Time Country and Bluegrass Music Festival, said that turnout was good for the 33rd annual festival's first year at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds.

"We've had a tremendous response to being here," she said on Friday. "I think they like the fairgrounds so much that everyone is playing better, they're excited for the new location."

More than 600 artists and many more visitors traveled from states as far as Texas, as well as other countries, to sing or play traditional music of America's settlers.

For one family, the Balzats of New Zealand, this was the group's first trip to America.

The family of nine, including seven children age 9-20 that play fiddle, cello, guitar and flute, drew crowds to their shows featuring feisty bluegrass and Celtic tunes.

"They've been raising money for a year to come here," Everhart said. "After they're done playing, they're going to go to Disneyland."

Katja Balzat, 16, who plays the flute, said her family enjoyed their visit to Iowa.

Marika Balzat, 10, agreed.

"My favorite part is playing together," she said.

Under a shady tree on Saturday, a man playing a guitar and two harmonica players sitting on lawn chairs picked up a tune together, one of many informal jam sessions that started all over the fairgrounds.

"I came from Leavenworth, Kan.," said one of the harmonica players, Don Spain. He carries around a briefcase of about 20 harmonicas, but says he has about 30 more at home and in the glove compartment of his car.

He was just one of hundreds of people around the fairgrounds, brought together by the love of music.

Even the weather was perfect for the week, said co-organizer Bob Everhart.

"It was beautiful," he said.