Brent McCown/Tribune
Larry Dean and Stranger Creek perform Thursday afternoon during the Miles of Memories Country MusicFest and RV Rally at the Adams County Fairgrounds. Members of the group (from left) are Gordon Riley, Larry Dean, Mary Bichelmeyer and Garry Bichelmeyer.

Country Music Fest brings visitors in from afar
Shay Burk
sburk@hastingstribune.com
The Miles of Memories Country MusicFest and RV Rally was a success again this year in Hastings even with a lack of local participation.
“Most of the people that come travel here from across Nebraska and from other states including Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and Colorado,” said event organizer Mary Schulz.
Each year, country and western performers and their supporters travel to the Adams County Fairgrounds in Hastings for the annual country musicfest, which features old country, bluegrass and even some rockabilly music.
“Overall, it was a wonderful program,” Schulz said. “The neat thing is each event is shaped by the talent we have that we’ve booked. It’s a little different flavor each time based on the talent we have.”
The featured talent this year included longtime yodeler Stew Clayton, Gene Autry tribute artist Steve Mitchell and rockabilly group Larry Dean and Stranger Creek.
Miles of Memories was first held in Hastings four years ago and over time has built a strong following of people from across the state and the Midwest.
Many of the participants and the guests at the event come in RVs and stay on the grounds. However, Schulz said the motels were still heavily impacted by the event.

To read more, see Monday's Hastings Tribune or the Tribune e-edition.