There’s a quote by Leonardo da Vinci that says:
“As a well-spent day brings happy sleep,
so life well used brings happy death.â€
These words strike a deep chord with those of us blessed enough to have known and loved Russell Bell. Thinking back to all the time I spent with Russ, it’s only now that I can truly appreciate the way he lived. No matter what was going on, he chose to stand in the present moment and to soak up every moment of joy life had to offer him. His cup overflowed and the rest of us were lucky enough to get a little sprinkle. Those sprinkles still make me smile, and some even make me laugh.
Only a handful of people who come into your world have the ability to brighten lives the way that Russ did. God granted him but half a life, and those of us that love him will always feel cheated that he was taken from us so young. He’s no longer with us, but we are grateful for the time we had with him––that he was with us to share his soul-shine and smiles even if only for a moment in time. These are days and memories to be treasured. His family and friends are honored to have loved Russ.
RussFest is about honoring him!
And helping ensure a bright future for his adorable son, Isaac. There’s no doubt that Russ lives on in him–to see that cute little face and head of blond hair, it’s so clear to see. All of the proceeds from this benefit concert will be donated to Isaac’s trust fund. He’s our boy and we all love him--a little piece of Russ right here on earth!
Those of us involved in the planning of RussFest are truly excited to extend the invitation to you. It’s been a labor of love and our goal is to make RussFest the type of event that our dear friend would have enjoyed attending. That shouldn’t be complicated–-we just need uplifting energy and lots of joy!
Many of the details are still being worked out, so please bear with us. We will do our best to keep you informed about what’s going on. Make sure you check back once in a while.
What’s posted here is the most current information.
BANDS
11:00-11:30 am--Alex Robb
11:45 am-12:15 pm--Scott Hill
12:30-1:30 pm--Robin Winegardner
1:45-3:45 pm--Mudfoot
4:00-6:00 pm--Last Chance (featuring Matt Chrisman)
7:00-9:00 pm--Mike Perkins accompanied by Chris Beal
ACOUSTIC JAM SESSION
There will be an acoustic jam session following the headliner. If you play an acoustic instrument, feel free to bring your instrument and join in.
TICKETS
$5 at the gate
Kids get in free
Donations will be accepted
FESTIVAL HOURS
Gates will open at 10:00 am on Saturday, October 18, 2008. All attendees and their camps should evacuate the premises on Sunday, October 19, 2008 by 2:00 p.m. No Friday arrivals please.
LOCATION
The Hill Family Compound is more than just a venue for RussFest. It is also our home, and it was Russ’ second home and a place in which his spirit still remains. Please keep this in mind while you’re with us, and respect our home like it’s your own. Our goal is to create an atmosphere that is enjoyable for everyone–-for it to be safe and family-oriented. If you’re curious about our rules, please see the blog titled, “Rulesâ€.
ON-SITE AMENITIES
Expect good old fashioned camping on a grassy knoll with fellow music lovers. On site provisions will include parking, tent camping, port-a-johns, and (weather permitting) designated bonfires. No electricity or phones are available. (Read below for some suggestions of what to bring.) Pack for possible inclement weather. This is a rain or shine event! (The musicians will be sheltered in a 3-bay garage. If it happens to rain, we'll shift the music and open up the inside to use for shelter while the music is playing--but only if it rains.)
There is one pizza place that delivers to this address, but as stated above, there are no phones available and cell phone service is in and out depending on your location.
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN ARE WELCOME
Many of the families that will be at RussFest have children, and your children are welcome, too. There are some swings for the kids to play on and plenty of room to run. We're still working out the plans and details, but we're going to try to designate a Family Camping area to make things a little easier for the families at RussFest.
CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT
In addition to the music entertainment, we are also having a Cornhole Tournament. Please be there at 11:00 am to register. Games will run from 12:00 pm ‘til 6:00 pm (or until we run out of teams). The entry fee is $10 per team, and the winning team takes home half the entry fees. So if you feel like testing your cornhole skills, plan to join us for the tournament. After the tournament, you can play cornhole just for fun. The winning team will be announced between 6:00-7:00 pm.
50 / 50 RAFFLE
We'll also be holding a 50 / 50 raffle. The raffle tickets will be $1 each or 6 for $5. The winner takes home half the pot. The winner will be announced between 6:00-7:00 pm.
$5 / 5 MINUTE MASSAGES
Russell's dear friend, PJ, is a massage therapist and has volunteered his time and massage chair for a few hours. He'll be doing five minute massages for $5. This is quite a bargain for his magic fingers! You won't want to miss out on this one.
VOLUNTEERS
By offering at least 2 hours of your weekend to help RussFest run smoothly and successfully, we will wave your ticket price and you will earn admittance to the event. If you think you’d like to volunteer, you can message us at RussFest on MySpace or you can e-mail us at
[email protected]. (In the title box put the word “Volunteer†so we can make sure the right person gets the message.) We will be filling our volunteer positions on a first-come, first-serve basis while the need exists. Check out the volunteer information and e-mail us with what you can offer. Please volunteer early, as scheduling work shifts also needs to occur early. (If you're volunteering, we'll be loose with the 2:00 evac.) Walk up volunteers MUST arrive with cash for a ticket, and there is NO guarantee that volunteer space is available at the gate.
SUNDAY CLEAN-UP
Dispose of your trash throughout the weekend and encourage others to do the same. If you would like to stay and help with cleanup and breakdown, just ask one of our volunteers how you can help. We really appreciate any help with clean-up that you guys can offer.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
• Food / Picnic / Cooler
• Blankets
• Tent and sleeping bag
• Tarps in case of rain
• Rain gear
• Warm clothing
• Extra clothing
• Waterproof footwear
• Socks, more socks, and some extra socks.
• Sun Screen
• Flashlight, Lantern, and/or Candles
• Hat
• Your smiling face!
Please come out and show your support. It's sure to be a good time!
