Couple creates new music event in Sisters

The idea to stage a local summertime blues festival began over a year ago for Cheryl and Tom White of Sisters. Following through with that vision gave rise to the First Annual Central Oregon Blues & Crawfish Festival to be held July 3-5 at Creekside Park in Sisters.

"It just seemed time to bring in another musical event to town. We want to bring all of Central Oregon to the festival including people from Redmond, Prineville and Bend," said Cheryl White.

The Whites are making sure that the festival gives back to the community. Sisters Rotary Club members will be alcohol servers and donate their wages to local children's projects. The Together For Children organization will be selling bottled water to raise funds.

"With the music recording studio we own we were able to help produce the Spirit of Christmas CD last year," said Cheryl. "That benefited local charities and we wanted to use the festival to help children as well."

Having people visit Sisters and possibly staying for several days was something that also appealed to the Whites. Attendees can camp at the park and will be given wristbands that allow them to come and go from the concerts.

"We are happy that festivalgoers will explore Sisters businesses and not just stay at the park. We wanted to make sure people could eat and shop in town," she said.

Producing a three-day event has kept the Whites busy. Tom utilized his music background and industry connections to help with booking the musical acts. The positive response from people has kept them going.

"People are coming up to me and talking about the festival. They are excited about having more blues music in town. That is the fun part. The hardest part is the logistics. Things you have never had to do before. Like trying to decide which crawfish cooker I should buy," said Cheryl White.

For more information visit http://www.CentralOregonBluesFestival.com.