Inaugural Homestead Festival kicks off Friday with music, skills to live on the land
Rory Feek will launch his first Homestead Festival this weekend, inviting visitors to learn about the importance of sustainable living, agriculture, as well as lots of live music.
The first-ever Homestead Festival will kick off Friday morning, including multiple demonstrations from artists and homesteader experts, teaching attendees various skills on how to "live off the land," such as how to properly grow and cultivate crops, perform beekeeping, raise chickens and milk cows.
There will also be two nights of award-winning live music to experience, highlighted by headliner Kevin Costner & Modern West, as well as performances by Feek, Grand Ole Opry Alumni The Isaacs and Brotherly Love.
"Combining music and meaning, the two-day affair is bringing together some of the most influential speakers, teachers, and musical icons for a hands-on event where you can learn not only how to grow your own food, but also how to grow a life filled with meaning and purpose," a press release states.
The festival's demonstrators and speakers will include Temple Grandin, Rebecca Lamb of the Homestead one-room schoolhouse, as well as an Amish panel hosted by Feek, among others.
Feek, who has been posting video logs, or "Flogs" to his YouTube page, has documented the festival's preparations, its purpose and what he hopes attendees will take away from coming out this weekend.
To him, it's not just a weekend of fun and entertainment, but an opportunity to go home with an education on how to preserve life, "the old fashioned way."
“We are all, of course, over-the-moon excited to have Mr. Costner and his band coming to join us for the event," Feek said. "But the truth is, we are just as excited to have all the incredible performers and speakers that are taking the time from their busy lives to come to Tennessee and share their knowledge and skills with individuals and families, who too will be coming from all over to take part in this special weekend."
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The format for the weekend will be homesteading classes and lectures throughout the day and music on the main stage in the evenings as the sun sets. Multiple tents on the grounds will host simultaneous speakers, teaching folks how to be more self-sustaining and live closer to the land.
"I think the practices are very important and aren’t being passed down to future generations the way they used to be … especially with the struggles we are all facing in the world today," Feek said.
"People are interested in learning the skills and information that can help them provide for their families in these challenging times and also add meaning and joy to their lives."
For more information, the full schedule or to purchase tickets, visit www.TheHomesteadFestival.com.
Tickets are $295 for general admission and $500 for VIP passes, which include premier seating and access to exclusive VIP Q&As with some of the weekend's vendors and artists.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Inaugural Homestead Festival kicks off Friday with live music, events
