'It's going to be exciting' Homestead Festival returns for second year this weekend
It's not every festival you come home with knowledge to develop a sustainable life for yourself and your family, while creating lasting memories on a scenic farm in the country.
This is at the heart of Rory Feek's Homestead Festival, which returns for its second year this weekend on June 2 and 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The event will feature two days of lectures, demonstrations, more than 200 vendors and, of course, capping each night off with live music on the main stage.
On Feek's 100-acre farm, adults and children will be able to plant seeds, see how honey is harvested, sheer sheep or milk a cow, just to name a few interactive activities at the festival. A 12-foot log cabin will even be raised "the old fashioned way," built by hand using pegs.
Homestead Festival organizers have been bailing hay, gathering livestock, clearing the fields to set up tents, stages and the final preparations for another successful year following 2022's inaugural event, which featured Oscar-winning actor Kevin Costner and his band Modern West.
Feek said one of the biggest surprises for the festival's first year was the lasting impact it seemed to have on many attendees, because Homestead isn't your typical festival, he says, but one that is geared to inspire a better life - in food, education and living off of one's own land, or the quintessential homesteading-101 event.
"We were all surprised at how such a big undertaking last year was, but also how beautiful and special it was," Feek said. "We were all just in awe with how it happened and what's become of this idea that we had."
While last year's festival was a success, Feek said he wanted to take somewhat of a different approach this year, focusing more on the educational aspect. New features for kids, or "Lil' Homesteaders" are added and bringing things full circle in regard to the development of his farm.
Vendors will teach interested festival-goers what they know about farming techniques and artisan goods and food from acclaimed homesteaders like Joel Salatin, "the most famous farmer in America" and creator of the documentary Food Inc. to Jill Winger who will teach onlookers how to grow their own food. "Chicken ninja" Justin Rhodes will also be on hand to show best practices of poultry.
"It's been really exciting this year, because we were able to learn from last year, make some changes, shoot for the moon in certain ways. And also we're doing a better job of taking care of our speakers and everybody else that's coming this year," Feek said. "It's looking really, really good."
Festival features, fun for all ages
If there's one thing to describe all the experiences at the Homestead Festival, it's the variety of things to do for all ages.
This could include taking in a lecture on home gardening, woodworking or creating sustainable living, loading up the kids on a hayride around the farm or simply wandering about and discovering something new. For its second year, organizers say there will be even more to see and do this year.
In addition to two days of education seminars, demonstrations and live music, the Homestead Festival will feature nearly 200 vendors, which includes about a dozen food trucks, which organizer Rachel Greenwood said is more than double compared to last year.
"There will be lots of vendors and lots of food trucks compared to last year," Greenwood said. "We've got things like wood turners, leatherworkers, ceramics and tie dye. We've got lots of merch and farm-oriented things, but also fun stuff like jewelry and handmade items. It's going to be good."
The kids zone, or Lil' Homesteaders, will feature a bounce house, a petting zoo, as well as a giant "corn pit" to jump and play in. Feek said there will be lots of fun for "kids all ages and experience levels."
"How often do you get to come somewhere where you can go from a petting zoo to helping sheer sheep, helping milk a cow, processing chickens or pigs, building a timber frame or keeping bees," Feek said. "We've even got an area where kids can plant things. Our kids get to do this all the time, but this is more like one weekend a year what we do at our school gets real big, and it's for children of all ages, even up to my age and older."
Another new feature will include the opportunity to see a 12-foot-by-six-foot log cabin being raised "the old fashioned way," built by hand using pegs, mortise and tenon joints.
A new Homestead Festival app is free to download on all digital devices and features things like a detailed daily schedule, information on featured performers, a festival map and vendor info.
Bringing it all full circle
At the end of each night, Feek will host an evening of live music on the main stage featuring artists he personally curated for the festival.
This year's lineup will feature performances by Collin Raye, Craig Campbell, Paul Overstreet and the Malpass Brothers. A second side stage for live music will also be set up near the Hardison Mill Schoolhouse.
Feek said he is excited for this year's music lineup, not only because he will be sharing the stage with good friends and telling stories, but there will also be a tie in to the history of the farm itself.
In late 1999, when Feek was getting his start as a songwriter, he sold his first song "Someone You Used to Know," which was recorded by Raye and went to the top of the charts. After receiving royalties for his first No. 1 hit, Feek decided to purchase a place of his own, eventually discovering his now sprawling farm.
The farm, the festival and Feek's career as an artist can be tied back to this first song, which he plans to close the festival with Raye on Saturday night, bringing everything full circle.
"That's one of the things that I'm looking most forward to this year, because it is really something that's come full circle for me," Feek said. "It's going to be a neat moment, and how we'll kind of mark the end of the weekend. It's going to be real special, how it all started here."
For more information on The Homestead Festival, this year's featured speakers and performers, or to purchase tickets, visit www.HardisonMill.com. Tickets are $145 for general admission, $25 for kids ages 6-17 and $245 for general admission plus, which includes premier seating, an air-conditioned tent and VIP restrooms.
Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Homestead Festival returning for second year this weekend
