This year’s promotional poster for the 47th Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield will pay homage to the old W. 14th Ave. Bridge, which was torn down earlier this year as part of a replacement project.
Festival officials released the poster design and a statement on the bridge Tuesday.
The old bridge across the Walnut River on 14th was used as a secondary entrance to the Winfield Fairgrounds during the music festival, which happens each September. A gate staffed by WVA crew was located on the east side of that bridge.
Many festival-goers described their campsite location in reference to the bridge, and for quite a few patrons the bridge served as the gateway for their final departure each year from festival grounds.
The Festival, which will be held Sept. 12-16, 2018, draws a crowd of 10-15 thousand people to celebrate a blend of all kinds of acoustic music, including bluegrass, folk, Americana, a little bit of cowboy, some Celtic, blues, jazz and swing, and more.
The replacement bridge is expected to be open to traffic just in time for the festival.
Festival spokesperson Rex Flottman issued the following statement regarding the bridge and the festival:
“Through the years people crossed over the West 14th street bridge to discover an entirely new world – a world of music…music that was being performed, shared, taught and experienced for decades. Older ones passing tunes down to younger ones, and the young ones taking up the torch, adding their mark on the old songs and contributing new music from the perspective of young eyes. Long term relationships were formed, friends made, and students of the music found teachers. A community grew from the common love of making music under the trees and stars – around a campfire. Now the old iron bridge is gone, replaced by a new modern concrete bridge, not all that different from the ever-changing life we lead in the real world. I wonder what new music the next generation of travelers crossing over the bridge into our community will bring with them to share.”
