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Event/Site:
Stokes Stomp at Moratock
Park in Downtown Danbury
Date: 3rd Saturday and Sunday in September. Saturday,
11:00am - 6:00pm; Sunday, 1:00 - 6:00pm. Music on Saturday Noon -
6:00pm, on Sunday 1:00pm - 6:00pm.
Type: Two-day park festival with music stage,
featuring a variety of genres including regional bluegrass and old-time
music, children's activities, craft and food vendors.
Location: Stokes Stomp takes place in Moratock Park in downtown Danbury. From I-40 Business, take US
Hwy 311 North through Walnut Cove. About 1 mile past Walnut Cove, take
NC Hwy 89 North about 8 miles to Danbury.
As NC Hwy 89 North comes into Danbury,
Sheppard Mill Road
forks off to the right. (Right at Danbury General Store, 201 Main St.)
Danbury General Store is located in the fork. Take Sheppard Mill Road and
immediately you will cross over the Dan River and into Moratock
Park. Click here for a map.
Cost: Free.
Parking: Free parking is available on the softball
field at the park and along the road in Danbury. Parking is adequate for bus
tours, but there may be a walk. The local fire department assists with parking
and traffic control.
Special Needs Access: Venue is accessible, but there
are no paved paths. People with special needs may be driven directly to
the park entrance.
Signage: Signs at location, but not en route.
Sponsor: Stokes County Arts Council
Web Site: www.stokesarts.org
Contact:
Stokes County Arts Council
PO Box 66
Danbury, NC 27016
(336) 593-8159
stokesarts@mindspring.com
Description of Event: Between 15,00 and 30,000 people
come to this little town of 108 residents for the annual two-day
festival. The music stage is intentionally eclectic, including regional
musicians who reflect the broad range of musical talent that resides in
Stokes County and its vicinity. The music
stage presents bluegrass and old-time musicians, as well as an eclectic
mix of other genres. Organizers are bringing a more deliberate
grassroots focus to the event to further highlight the county, its
musicians, and its music traditions.
History of Site/Event: The Stokes Stomp has a 29-year
history and may be the only festival around that gave birth to an Arts
Council. Back in 1975, a group of about 20 people applied for a small
grant to put together an event for the people of Stokes County.
At the time, there were very few opportunities in the county to come
together as a regional community in festive celebration. The first
Stokes Stomp was an immediate success and has continued to grow,
drawing not only county residents but also sizeable numbers of visitors
from the border counties of Virginia
and from nearby North Carolina
counties. The original core group of festival organizers formed the
Stokes County Arts Council the following year, and many of them remain
active in presenting the annual festival.
Description of Site/Facility: As the Dan River snakes
through the historic town of Danbury, it
forms a horseshoe and encloses pretty little Moratock Park in its loop. The park's
tree-lined sandy riverbanks and green lawn run alongside picnic areas,
a softball field, and open spaces. For Stokes Stomp, arts and crafts
vendors set up along the edge of the woods, and a large circus tent
provides space for children's activities. The park's covered pavilion
serves as the food court, and the music stage is situated nearby.
Significance of Site/Event to the Community: The
public feeling of ownership of this event has created a wide base of
support within the county that has guided the festival through its
29-year history. As Arts Council member Don Brinkley puts it,
"People grade it real hard. You don't have to wonder if they like
it or not." Arts Council staff estimates that 60% of Stokes Stomp
attendance comes from Stokes
County. Stokes'
mostly rural communities are dispersed, especially in the northern
two-thirds of the county. Stokes Stomp's
location, situated at the county seat in the middle of the county,
draws residents who live all over the county, including on the
periphery, back to the center.
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