Bull Run Country Jamboree

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One of the fun activities in which I used to participate when I lived in No. Virginia was the Bull Run Country Jamboree. It began in 1982 at Bull Run Park in Manassas, VA and was held for 2 days the first year – in the following years, it became a 1 day show. It was much like an old fashioned carnival, craft show and concert – hairiest legs contests, smoothest legs contests, greased pig contests, with all of the attendant food and beverage trucks – yes, beer was included Yummmm…..funnel cake!!!!  This was HB giving my Mom a talking to that first year.

1982

What was so wonderful about Bull Run was the attitude of the people who attended. The gates to the park usually opened at 6 am – people would line up in their vehicles the night before, and party while they waited. It was open-air lawn seating, except for the campground area, and it was important to get there early to get a good spot. What was so unusual was that you could stake out your spot, spread out your blankets and chairs, and then simply walk away to peruse all the other entertainment. Come back an hour later and NOTHING would be touched!!! Everyone looked out for everyone else!

1982 Crowd

We attended Bull Run every year until 1988, when we moved to NE for 2 years. Of course, it was during that period that Garth Brooks played there and I missed it!!! If you listen to his song, “The Old Stuff,” you will hear him talk about Bull Run……there was a thunderstorm that knocked out the power!

In 1986, I gathered up a bunch of family – brother, sister, Mom, ex-hubby – and friends and off we all went to Bull Run, setting up our lawn chairs next to our vehicles to sleep until the gates opened – or partied – depending on one’s choice.

Carol and Mom

Towards the end of the concert, park staff would bring around trash bags and everyone cleaned up their own trash, with not a speck left once everyone was gone.

Most years, we had young children with us and those using intoxicants besides beer or wine generally congregated at the campsites. One of the few times I attended without HB, I went with a group of the young project officers from DHR, most of whom consumed MJ. 3 women, 2 guys. Since we weren’t camping, we would team up to visit the Port-O-Johns. One would go in first, do their thing, hit the bowl and set it on the side of the seat. The next person came in and repeated it, then everyone headed back to our spot.

It was my turn in the John…..I was unaware that outside, the police were trying to evict a drunk who insisted he just HAD to pee first! They bumped my friend from the line and placed the drunk there instead.

Debbie and Me

I did my thing, put the bowl on the side, against the wall, and opened the door! There stood 2 policemen on either side of the line, thankfully about 10 feet away…..I said, “Oh, excuse me, I left my wallet!” Grabbed that sucker and stuffed it in my pocket, and we walked away. That ended THAT activity for the day!!!!

The festival was moved to a new concert venue outside Haymarket, VA around 2007 or 2008. I attended one time and, frankly, it sucked!!!! No more open seating, no more food and beverage trucks, no more crafts. Never went again!!!! But, ah, the memories!!

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Published by NebraskaFilly

Army veteran (1976-1979), retired with entirely too much time on my hands

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145 thoughts on “Bull Run Country Jamboree”

    1. personally I despise raccoons…because i’ve had to clean up their destruction morning after morning after they ruined my potted plants and tracked their (what I’m forcing myself to say MUDDY–could be something else) footprints all over my pillows on the deck furniture…
      sigh…I didn’t even bring the pillows out last year…

      Liked by 2 people

        1. I painted rocks like cacti and arranged them in a shallow terra cotta dish and filled it with tiny stones. no dirt. just tiny stones and big stones. they insisted on at least once a week scattering the small stones over the small table top and pulling out one or 2 stones…I mean really…what was the point of that?

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  2. second suspect arrested in the sacramento shooting…he’s the brother of the first suspect. both are charged with illegally possessing firearms–so why TOUGHER gun laws? it was already against the law for them to have them. the second brother was also charged with possession of a machine gun–those are also illegal. felons and criminals DO NOT CARE WHAT THE GUN LAWS ARE!

    https://www.foxnews.com/us/sacramento-mass-shooting-second-suspect-arrested

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  5. Like

        1. right?
          it’s easier to buy more ammo, so murder is now legal?
          you can buy drugs anywhere…so they’re legal too?
          what a moron
          there’s pornography. then there’s CHILD pornography.
          the second one SHOULD NEVER BE EXCUSED OR LEGALIZED

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  9. Liked by 1 person

  12. dinner tonight is dinner salads…typical Tuesday dinner.
    anxious to read tomorrow’s open Filly!
    it’s awesome doing this with you!
    thanks my friend!

    Liked by 1 person

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