~ 2025 PRE-FEST EVENTS & KNOWN HAPPENINGS ~
The Fun begins with a variety of pre-festival activities. There are jam sessions, tune exchanges, hiking events, and outings to local establishments. Please join us if you can!
Question: I don't want a schedule, I just want to play and have fun! YES! The schedule below is just an introduction. Start your own jam. Wander the campgrounds and see what you can find. Ask for or give a music lesson. Organize outings or shenanigins with your friends and neighbors. Start new traditions. Its all up to you!
Question: How do I start a jam? Arrange a couple of empty chairs at your campsite in a circle. Sit down and start playing. Or go sit in a public area, like the porch or the fountain, start playing. People will join you.
june 1 - june 30th:
- ​Online Store Open: Order all your ODPC FunFest shirts, hats and accessories at our spirit sale online store.
daily (and nightly):
- ​Jamming in the Red (Goat) Barn, The Red barn is reserved for jamming the for the entire festival. Open to all.
daily, starting Tuesday July 8th through July 16th:
- ​U​ke jams, 10-11:30am at the Lions pavilion. If you own a copy of the book, The Daily Ukulele, by Liz and Jim Beloff, please bring your book to the jam. This is the yellow book, from their three book series.
daily, starting Wednesday July 9th through July 16th:
- Hammer Dulcimer jams, 1-4 ​pm and ​7-10 pm in the ODPC Pavilion. All instruments are welcome.
- Mountain Dulcimer jams, date and times TBA
Thursday, Friday and Saturday - July 10-12
- Rick Thum "Beyond A-Z of Hammered Dulcimer". For cost, details & registration, see the Pre-Fest Academy.
Friday July 11 Daily thru July 16th
- Dixieland Jam: 2 - 4:15 pm daily at the Swine Barn. All instruments welcome; not limited to traditional Dixieland instrumentation. Discover the joy of the old time favorites performed in a Dixieland style: Bill Bailey, Darktown Strutters’ Ball, When the Saints, Alabama Jubilee… Coordinated by Jim Janofski
Saturday July 12th
- 9:00am - Jam at the Evart Farmer’s Market. Join us any time between 9 am and 1 pm. Everyone is welcome! 200 South Main St, Evart, MI at the Evart Depot next to the Pere Marquette Rails to Trails.
Daily, starting saturday July 12 thru 16
- 2:00-4:00pm - Fiddle jam, 2 ​- 4 ​pm at the Lions pavilion.
- 7:00pm - Silver Strings Open Jam: All instruments welcome. At sites TBA
Sunday July 13th
- 10am - Evart Free Methodist Church Service Performance. For several years, the church has featured music by festival players at their morning service. The church is located just to the west of the fairgrounds at 6151 95th Ave. All instruments are welcome. The hymn list is available to download Here as well as on a table in the Community Building. Try to arrive by 9:30am to set up. For questions or music list, contact Jim Janofski
- 7pm - Gospel Sing in the Fairgrounds Community Building. A long time Evart tradition: singers, instruments, and special music welcomed and encouraged.
- 7:00pm - Silver Strings Open Jam: All instruments welcome. At sites TBA
Monday - Wednesday, July 14, 15 & 16
- Rick Thum "A-Z of Hammered Dulcimer" For cost, details & registration, see the Pre-Fest Academy.
- 9am-12am - Dave Haas "Mountain Dulcimer Track 1" Advanced beginner workshop offered for 3 half days. For cost, details & registration, see the Pre-Fest Academy.
- 1pm - 4pm - Dave Haas "Mountain Dulcimer Track 2" Intermediate workshop offered for 3 half days. For cost, details & registration, see the Pre-Fest Academy.
- 9-12 and 1-4pm - Brett Ridgeway "All inclusive Mountain Dulcimer Sampler Workshop" For cost, details & registration, see the Pre-Fest Academy.
Monday July 14th
- Stage Assembly (Grandstand) (Volunteers Needed)
- 10am - Sloth Jam at the ODPC Pavilion. This is a slower than slow jam for beginners
- 7:00pm - Silver Strings Open Jam: All instruments welcome. At sites TBA
Tuesday July 15th
- 7:30am - Fair Board Breakfast in the Community Building. Annual breakfast sponsored by the Fair Board. You can also update/renew your membership information at this event.
- 7:30 am - Ribbon Pinning Party in the Community Building. Eat your breakfast, then join us to pin the festival ribbons.
- 10am - Sloth Jam at the ODPC Pavilion. This is a slower then a slow jam for beginners
- 7:00pm - Silver Strings Open Jam: All instruments welcome. At sites TBA
Wednesday, July 16th
- 9:00am - 4:00pm ODPC Office Open - volunteer signup, membership renewal & tee shirt sales
- 9:00am - 4:00pm Mark Alan Wade - Hammered and Mountain Dulcimer workshops. For cost, details & registration, see the Pre-Fest Academy.
- 9:00am - 4:00pm Val Cortoni - Hammered Dulcimer workshops. For cost, details & registration, see the Pre-Fest Academy.
- 9:00am - 12:00pm Joe Steiner - Intermediate Guitar. For cost, details & registration, see the Pre-Fest Academy.
- 1:00 - 4:00pm- Joe Steiner - Beginning Harmonica. For cost, details, & registration, see the Pre-Fest Academy.
- 10:00am - Sloth Jam at the ODPC Pavilion. This is a slower then a slow jam for beginners
- 11:45am - The Battle Cry of Freedom - Music and Revivals of the Civil War Era at the Lion's Club Pavilion (following the ukulele jam). Musical reminders of the captivating, powerful, and time tested music and spiritual revivals during this turbulent era in our American history.) Presented by Jim Janofski—instruments and players welcomed!
- 4:00-6:30pm - Dinner in the Community Hall. This is a fundraiser for the Osceola County 4-H Small Animal Program. Details TBA.
- 7:00pm - Dixieland Jam in the Community Building.
- 7:00pm - Silver Strings Open Jam: All Instruments welcome. Sites TBA
- Evening - Squirrels' Nest Open Jam
~ FUNFEST official start - THURSDAY ~ July 17
Thursday, July 17th
- 9:00am - noon Children's Activities (Rabbit Barn)
- 9:00am - 5:00pm Workshops
- 9:00am - 4:00pm ODPC Office - volunteer signup, membership renewal & tee shirt sales
- 10:00am - 6:00pm Vendor Sales
- 1:00pm - 4:00pm Children's Activities (Rabbit Barn)
- 6:30pm - 10:00pm Evening Stage Show (Grandstands)
- 7:00pm - Silver Strings Open Jam - Site TBA
- Evening - Squirrels' Nest Open Jam
Friday, July 18th
- 9:00am - noon Children's Activities (Rabbit Barn)
- 9:00am - 5:00pm Workshops
- 9:00am - 4:00pm OPDC Office - volunteer signup, membership renewal & tee shirt sales
- 10:00am - 6:00pm Vendor Sales
- 1:00pm - 4:00pm Children's Activities (Rabbit Barn)
- 6:30pm - 10:00pm Evening Stage Show (Grandstands)
- 7:00pm - 9:00pm Friday Night Dance (Community Hall)
- 7:00pm - Silver Strings Open Jam - Sites TBA
- Evening - Squirrels' Nest Open Jam
Saturday, July 20th
- 9:00am - 5:00pm Workshops
- 9:00am - 4:00pm OPDC Office - volunteer signup, membership renewal & tee shirt sales
- 10:00am - 6:00pm Vendor Sales
- 10:00am - 11:30am Youth Concert (Grandstands)
- 1:00pm - 4:00pm Children's Activities (Rabbit Barn)
- 2:00pm - 3:30pm Open Mic Concert (Grandstands)
- 6:30pm - 10:00pm Evening Stage Show (Grandstands)
- 7:00pm - Silver Strings Open Jam - Sites TBA
- Evening - Squirrels' Nest Open Jam
- Late Evening - Irish Jam - All are welcome (Building 11)
Sunday, July 20st
- 9:00am - 9:50am Gospel Sing - A gospel service. Led by Pastor Jim Janofski. (Community Building)
- 10:30am FunFest Wrap-up meeting (CODPC Office)
- Stage Disassembly (Grandstand) (Volunteers Very Much Needed)