The Oly Old Time Festival

03/12/2025

So many smiles!

03/12/2025

Some lovely OOTF 2025 people ❤️.

03/12/2025

Such fun dances this year!!!

03/05/2025

Such a monumental voice…

Ola Belle Reed (1916–2002) was a trailblazing bluegrass singer, songwriter, and banjo player.

The descendant of settlers to the New River Valley area of western North Carolina who arrived in the 1760s, Reed grew up in a family steeped in the musical heritage of Appalachia. One of thirteen children, she learned her style of clawhammer banjo from an uncle.

After her family resettled in northeastern Maryland during the Great Depression, Reed popularized her distinctive style by performing in music parks and picnic grounds for Appalachian migrants to the region. She founded the New River Boys with her brother Alex, recorded music for Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, and performed at the 1969 Smithsonian Folklife Festival (pictured).

Throughout her life, Reed was a passionate performer and promoter of the mountain music she loved.

Learn more about Reed and other National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellows in our Masters of Tradition story map: s.si.edu/storymap

Photo by Diana J. Davies, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives

02/16/2025

02/15/2025

Tonight! Dances, crankies, lounge acts and more!!!

02/14/2025

Tonight’s events! Lounge Acts, the Main Concert, a Square Dance and more!

02/13/2025

Happy Festival Kickoff Day! Join us at Ilk Lodge (and enjoy the amazing smash burgers!) for an open jam.

02/12/2025

Among our many silent auction items this year are a Recording King Dirty 30’s guitar, hand painted by in the style of a 1930’s Kel Kroydon; a 1960’s Harmony Banjo donated by and a “Get Your Two-step-on” Vintage Basket from ! We have two fiddles and other items up for bid as well. Start bidding Friday at the grange!

02/12/2025

Don’t tarry on getting tickets for the Friday evening events friends! Lounge Acts, Concert, and Square Dancing with The Shadies awaits!

02/11/2025

Catch Earl White’s old@time fiddle workshops down at the Arbutus Folk School on both Friday and Saturday!

02/11/2025

Great article about Dewey Balfa, whose daughter, Christine Balfa, is joining us at this year's festival. She's carrying on the music and legacy of her legendary father and we're so honored to have her and all of Balfa Toujours come share this with us!

An impassioned ambassador for Cajun music and culture, fiddler and singer Dewey Balfa (1927-1992) was a driving force in the revival of traditional Cajun music. Together with his brothers Will, Rodney, Harry, and Burkeman, and later his nephew Tony and daughter Christine, Balfa introduced the …

02/09/2025

Learn a bit about what makes Cajun singing so powerful and compelling with the one and only Christine Balfa, of Balfa Toujours! Saturday, at the grange.

02/09/2025

Oly fiddler, Eva Leach, along with some talented pals, will be with us Sat evening for the 2nd lounge act (starts ~6:00). Come for the tunes, stay for the dance! ❤️