Man, the past few years in the US have been a bit of a rollercoaster ride, haven’t they? But, getting to the Wheatland Music Festival in Remus, Michigan, recently was like a balm to my soul. The festival had been on a two-year hiatus because of COVID but, thank goodness, it’s back and I hope it’s here to stay!
The Wheatland Music Festival is a huge celebration that happens every year in Michigan. It’s a blend of all kinds of music and art, and the people who create it. We’re talking everything from folk and bluegrass to Cajun, blues, rockabilly, Celtic, and gospel. And all of this awesomeness takes place every September on a 160-acre farm.
I have to take a moment to write a love letter to Wheatland. I’ve known about you since the ’90s, but it was only this year that I truly fell head over heels. You’ve got my heart, so please, don’t ever let me go.
This year, we camped out for the entire weekend. We were totally unprepared – no tent stakes, no food, no cooler for drinks, and even no flashlight. But you know what? It didn’t matter. Nobody judged us or laughed at us. Instead, we were met with nothing but smiles and words of love. Not a single negative vibe to be found.
My husband and I are both completely smitten with you. We’re already making plans for next year. Next time, we’ll bring a camper. We want to say a massive thank you for being there for us and so many others over the years.
Now let me tell you about the atmosphere at Wheatland. Thousands of lovers of traditional music and art gather on this 160-acre farm every year, right after Labor Day. The magic phrase here is “Happy Wheatland”. It’s a greeting, a mantra, a password. It encapsulates the feeling of peace, love, and sheer joy that you find here.
What makes Wheatland so special? Everyone is valued equally. There’s no focus on a particular age group or interest. Everyone is as important to the festival’s mission as everyone else.
Then there’s the people. I met some of the most wonderful people over the weekend. The youngest was eight and the oldest was well into his 80s. I chatted with a retired postal worker, a substitute teacher, and an artist from Mio.
I had a particularly memorable encounter with two young boys, Atlas and Wyatt. Atlas, who’s 8, told me all about his Halloween costume plans. He’s going as the Headless Horseman and he’s super excited about it. We talked about how fun it is to dress up for events and how it can earn you loads of admiration.
Now, I’m usually not great with kids. They’re often too freaked out by an old lady asking them questions and showing an interest in them. But, Atlas was different. He was totally relaxed and paid as much attention to what I was saying as I did to what he was saying. That’s the vibe you get at Wheatland. It’s the norm, not the exception.
The other boy, Wyatt, is 12. He’s from Big Rapids and is quite the community hero. He volunteers in his local community and can play 12 different instruments. He might even become a musician or a music teacher one day. He’s got a fantastic name – Wyatt William Leach – and the personality to match.
I also got the chance to meet Wyatt’s dad who works as a substitute teacher in Big Rapids. We had a great chat about the differences between teaching elementary grades and middle school kids.
Now, let me tell you about the attitude of the people at Wheatland. Everyone I met or even passed by was friendly and welcoming. If you pointed your camera in someone’s direction, they’d smile. One guy even gave me a hug.
I remember bemoaning our lack of a flashlight to a lady while waiting to use the porta-potty. She just smiled and told me not to worry because the moon would light our way. Another guy overheard our conversation and offered to lend us his flashlight.
At Wheatland, you don’t need to worry about yourself or your belongings. The moment you enter the venue and flash your armband, you know you’re in a special place. I never worried about leaving my backpack unattended while I went to grab something to eat or buy a painting from one of the artist’s booths.
The performers at Wheatland are just as amazing. Some are more famous than others, but you wouldn’t be able to tell. They interact with the crowd as if they’re no different from anyone else. And that’s because they’re not. Everyone at Wheatland is just a person who loves music and being outdoors on a beautiful fall weekend.
The music at Wheatland is diverse. There’s something for everyone. And if the music at one stage isn’t to your liking, you can just move to another. There are multiple stages and tents for workshops. But, the best performances are often the spontaneous jamming sessions that happen all over the grounds, especially at night. It’s made me want to learn to play the Ukelele so I can join in next year.
And let’s not forget about the dancing. Everyone can dance and they do. Spontaneous dancing happens all the time. I got more exercise in those three days than I have in months. The Cajun dance on Saturday night is a particular highlight.
The artists and performers who come to Wheatland do it because they love it, not for the money. I saw this while watching Joe Louis Walker, a blues musician who’s been playing for over 50 years. When he got up on stage and played the first note on his guitar, you could tell that he was doing it because he loves it.
The same goes for all the other performers. They love what they do and they love doing it at Wheatland. I saw the members of the Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers standing under a tree just before their performance. We exchanged a few words and some fist bumps and I could see in their faces how happy they were to be there.
And last, but definitely not least, is the volunteers. The Wheatland Music Festival wouldn’t exist without them. They were all wearing red shirts this year, which reminded me of Star Trek. But unlike in Star Trek, where the red shirts were always the first to go, at Wheatland, the volunteers are anything but expendable. They’re the lifeblood of the festival.
So, here’s to you, Wheatland. Thank you for being a beacon of light in these difficult times. You’ve touched my soul and I can’t wait to see you again next year. #WheatlandMusicFestival #RemusMichigan
For more on the author’s experience at the festival, check out [Wheatland music festival – a love letter](https%3A%2F%2Fthumbwind.com%2F2022%2F09%2F21%2Fwheatland-music-festival-a-love-letter%2F).
Categories: #ART #LIVING #TRAVEL
Hashtags: #ART #LIVING #TRAVEL #AMERICANAMUSIC #MUSICFESTIVALS #REMUS #WHEATLAND #WHEATLANDMUSICFESTIVAL
Author: Carla Antico-Bumstead
The last few years have been a whirlwind in the US, but the Wheatland Music Festival in Remus, Michigan, was a soothing balm to the soul. The festival is a celebration of music, art, and community, and this year was no exception. Despite being unprepared, the author and her husband were welcomed with open arms into the Wheatland family. From the diverse range of performances to the spontaneous jam sessions and dancing, Wheatland was a testament to the power of music and community.
#WheatlandMusicFestival #MusicHeals
