Until Gheorghe: The Music Festival Happens, This'll Do

Sometimes it all comes together. 

Music festivals abound these days, and although not a single one seems to have popped up in my hometown yet (yet . . . business plan forthcoming), they seem to be weekly occurrences in most of the country, at least in the warmer months.  A few hometown friends recently embarked upon the Allmans' Wanee Music Festival in Florida with great success, and I'm hearing about other such rocking gatherings all the time.  So, I'm giving another music fest a little G:TB press . . . ho hum, right?

Well, this one seems to have several very Gheorghian elements to it.  Although I think pigeonholing this event as a "music festival" is likely giving the weekend's other aspects short shrift, it's several days' worth of Appalachian folk/bluegrass/rock/whatever music on the edge of the Pisgah National Forest not far from the Smoky Mountains.  Right up rootsy's alley, right?

It takes place down in the Tar Heel State on Memorial Weekend -- in Transylvania County -- not the same Transylvania where Gheorghe: The Dude hails from, but an interesting coincidence.

In Brevard, North Carolina, to be precise, and Rob knows what comes next.  Brevard is the newly opened east coast home of Dale's Pale Ale.  Oskar Blues Brewery expanded east last year, opening a post in Brevard to serve the massive mid-Atlantic demand stemming from Leesburg and Norfolk, VA. And the brewery is one of the festival's platinum sponsors, natch.

Good music and voluminously hopped mutha of a pale ales in Big Gheorghe's homeland namesake?  Need one more G:TB hook?  Okay.

What's it called?  The White Squirrel Festival, of course, celebrating certain inhabitants of Brevard trees and parks. Our very own white squirrel would be right at home.

There's a parade, 5k/10k White Squirrel races, a white squirrel photo contest, and something called the SquirrelBox Derby. (Different than the one from our undergrad days.)  They even have Pisgah Pete, a white spokesquirrel who is reputed to be able to kick Punxsutawney Phil's ass.

So, until we get off our duffs and create our own brewery-sponsored music festival, this will have to do.  Anyone looking for something rather Gheorghey to do over Memorial Day (other than hanging in DC with Abe Lincoln Whitney), head on down to western Cackalacky and take in the White Squirrel festival. 

In the meantime, here's a highly compelling video of white squirrel Rob (not to be confused with White Power Bill) and his family.  Gripping stuff.  SFW.  SFCP.  (Safe for church picnics.)