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Whitey & Flo's Campout
I can tell you where I'll be on Saturday afternoon and maybe you'll take a nice drive and visit me. While you're at it, you will have the opportunity to listen to some great down-home traditional country music. This weekend, starting tonight, it's Whitey & Flo's 20th Annual Campout, a legendary North Country event.
For the twentieth year Whitey Keese and his wife Flo have invited anyone who loves music to campout on their property on the Cold Brook Road in Riverview, just past Redford on Route 3. Friday night the campers and cars will start rolling in. In a huge wide-open field country music lovers can set up home for the weekend, without charge!
On Saturday at noon the music officially begins, although you can bet that Friday night some musicians will take to the stage and play music for the crowd. I will be at the music festival from noon till late afternoon, talking with musicians, music fans and recording the event. Musicians from Albany, Vermont and anyplace else will be there to entertain and have fun. Whitey Keese and the Cold Brook Ramblers kick off the music at noon, and the music will continue non-stop till late Saturday night.
You can just visit or you can campout. Vendors are on site selling tee shirts, music cassettes and cds, and you can buy food and drink as well. Or, bring your own and have a family picnic!
My first visit to Whitey & Flo's Campout was in 1999, at the invitation of Theresa Garrow of Ellenburg Center. I had a great time! And I even ran into some longtime friends that had been attending the campout for years. Odds are you will see someone you know at Whitey & Flo's Campout, but, if not, you will quickly make some new friends.
Whitey and Flo Keese are North Country music legends. Whitey has written many songs about living in the Adirondack Mountains. They will be joined by many friends and even some family members. I interviewed Tilou Bonhomme, the famous fiddler, and "Longhorn" Garrow at Whitey & Flo's Campout. Both have passed away, but I interviewed them and those clips will be included in this year's souvenir video of the 20th Whitey & Flo's Campout.
From Plattsburgh just follow Route 3 past Redford into Riverview (don't blink your eyes, or you'll miss the sign) and turn right onto the Cold Brook Road. From there a few miles down the road you'll see the campers. I hope to see some friends at Whitey & Flo's Campout 2006.
Comments
Whitey is my papa and Flo is my nanny we put alot of hard work in this every year and I love it! so come this year it will be the best campout ever!
(Foxy's note: Breanna, thanks for the comment. If you check out my most recent blog, I mention this year's campout.)
Posted by: Breanna McIntyre | April 15, 2008 9:39 AM
I have enjoyed the campout for years, enjoy just being in the hills. Whitey (my uncle) continues to crank out songs about people, places (ie cold brooks) and memorabilia, anything that ties into folk culture and music of that mountain community. I can't wait until next august
Posted by: michael ryan | January 25, 2008 10:33 AM
I am one of the original Green Mountain Boys and plan to attend Whity & Flo's Campout this year 2007. I'd like to hear from anyone that intends to go this year.
(Foxy's note: Whitey & Flo's Campout should be another great success this year. I am sorry to say that I will not be able to attend as I have another commitment out of town that weekend.)
Posted by: Skeeter Starke | July 29, 2007 11:42 AM
My husband and I and your sister Darlene & her husband Paul visited Whitey & Flo's last year - it was fun! Little did we know they didn't sell drinks at the site so it took about 2 minutes for people we never met before to offer us all one! Nice place and nice people!
Posted by: Sandi Mueller | August 14, 2006 10:27 PM