Goat Festival Completes Bucket List for Texas Couple

On October 13, 1973, George Reese of Houston, Texas went on a first date with a pretty young lady named Jacqui – 39 years later, the couple celebrated the anniversary of that first date while completing a checkmark on George’s bucket list by traveling all the way to Lewisburg for the Goats, Music and More Festival to meet Jimmy Hall of the headlining band – Wet Willie.

George and his brother Randy, who has been playing music in various bands for most of his life, are avid music fans. It was his brother, Randy, who first saw Jimmy Hall playing the harmonica that made the brothers long-time fans of Hall and his band, Wet Willie.

“It was truly on my bucket list to see Wet Willie,” George said. “But, how much more special was it that I checked it off my list in Lewisburg, Tennessee.”

George heard about the band coming to play the 10^th Annual Goats, Music and More Festival this year and began calling around to see if he could not only watch them perform but also meet Jimmy Hall.

“It started with Gina Jones who got me in touch with Eddie Fuller,” George said. “I am so grateful for him allowing my wife and I backstage to not only get autographs but to stay and hang around with the band as well.”

George and his wife Jacqui enjoyed a little time in Nashville before coming down to spend the day enjoying everything the Goats, Music and More Festival had to offer. When the band arrived early Saturday evening to get ready to perform, George and Jacqui were right there backstage and spent time with Jimmy Hall and the rest of the band right up to the time Wet Willie took the Rock Creek Park stage.

“If Eddie is the one in charge of getting the music for the festival, he could not have picked a greater band in my books,” George said.

The couple from Texas truly enjoyed their 39^th anniversary of their first date at the Goats, Music and More Festival in Lewisburg. They were surprised by the welcome and the warmth shown by the community.

“Everyone should experience, once in their lives, that genuine welcome we received from complete strangers who quickly made us feel at home and treated us as if we were long lost relatives,” George said. “The folks I met from Lewisburg are simply amazing and y’all gave my wife and I a trip we will never forget.”

Photo Above:

George Reese (left) gets his Wet Willie poster signed by Jimmy Hall (right) of Wet Willie as fellow band members (brother Jack Hall in background and sister Donna Hall far right), get  ready to take the stage.

10th Annual Goats, Music and More Festival

The festival that began in honor of those famous fainting goats of Marshall County returns for its 10^th year at Rock Creek Park in Lewisburg, TN on October 12 & 13, 2012 and this year’s lineup of goat shows, musical entertainment and activities for the whole family promises to draw crowds from all across the nation and beyond.

The Goats, Music and More Festival has been honored by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event for October twice with its unique southern flavor, top-notch free musical entertainment, goat shows that celebrate fainting and Boer goats, food of every description, arts and crafts and kids games and activities.

Coming to the stage this year will be more of the top-named acts that has made the festival such a hit with fans. On Friday night, The Bellamy Brothers take the Rock Creek Park stage delivering some of their famous country pop hits including “Let Your Love Flow”, “Redneck Girl”, “If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body”, and more.

Saturday night features Wet Willie. Wet Willie first rolled onto the national music scene in the early 70s with its unique style of southern rock and blues. The band reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Charts with their smash hit, “Keep On Smilin’” and followed with a string of Billboard hits including “Country Side of Life”, “Everything Thing That’Cha Do (Will Come Back to You)”, “Leona”, “Weekend”, and more.

The music will keep the stage happening all day Friday and Saturday and all the musical events are free. So, bring a lawn chair and make room to dance the days and nights away.

The real stars of the festival take the show tents on Friday and Saturday with the Rock Creek Classic Myotonic Goat Show, the World Grand Champion Fainting Goat Show and 2 Boer Goat Shows.

Vendors of all kinds will line the road at Rock Creek Park beginning Friday morning with anything and everything from fainting goat memorabilia to unique and artistic trinkets of all kinds. There is always great food, arts and crafts, unique products and more along the Rock Creek Park venue.

And for the kids, the Goats, Music and More Festival features a whole section of games and activities from pony rides to rock wall climbing and the moon bounce. On Thursday, October 11, the kids get a special treat with the Kids Goat Rodeo. There are just so many fun activities you just have to come and see for yourself.

Walk or run in the 4^th Annual 5K Goat Gallop Friday morning at 7 a.m. To pre-register or to find out more, look for Goats Gallop 5K on Facebook or at www.twitter.com/GoatsGallop5k.

And the Nannies and Kids pageant hosted by WAXO Radio/TV is always a hit with Grandmas and their grandchildren dressing up to hit the stage together. For more information, call (931) 359-6641 or 6642.

Or, for a complete look at this year’s festival updated as information comes in, log onto www.goatsmusicandmore.com or www.tnvacation.com.