Zach Deputy. (Above) The Kingston Springs
Opposite Box
Strung Like a Horse
When Colleen Petree was proposed to in July 2012, her one request was to have a music festival for the wedding. Although this may have not happened, husband and wife Colleen and Corey Petree have dedicated the past year to giving us all the wonderful experience of Fly Free Music and Art Festival in Adams, Tenn., Oct. 11-13. Fly Free Fest, a 3-day riverside camping, music and arts festival, features The Floozies, RJD2, Moon Taxi, JEFF the Brotherhood, Papadosio, Polish Ambassador and more. Named after Colleen’s family reunions, Family Fun Fest (FFF), the duo encourage everyone to be themselves, have fun and to “fly free” for the weekend.
“I wanted something nostalgic that resonated with something small, family and community-like,” said Colleen. “Some people can be skeptical to a first-year festival, but we have received a lot of excitement from people who have been looking forward to a smaller festival with a diverse lineup.”
Fly Free Fest has already sold tickets in over 30 cities around the United States which means attendees will be traveling from afar for this eccentric forest festival. In association with IMMIX Music Group and others, the team has put together huge stages and an unconventional, peaceful environment with lights and whimsical tree decorations. Guests can also take a shuttle during the day and canoe the Red River back to the festival!
Not only does the quirky festival have stages with cloud names (Cumulus, Stratus and Nimbus) but it also has themed costume days named Historical Figures, Spirit Animals and Halloween. Fly Free Fest offers a silent disco, bubbles, bonfires, fire performers, aerial performers, sustainability workshops, yoga and belly dancing workshops, and more. It will feature PPRWRK, Inner Ascension, Embers Enlightenment, live painter Jake Tessendorf, belly dancer Lacy Jo, festival dancing workshop leader Thomas Anderson, live painter Steven Kruse and others.
“We want people to get in tune with who they are deep down and be the person that they can’t really be in an office setting,” said Colleen. “A tight-knit, small setting really helps bring people together. The daily themes will be nice, too, because they’ll be a great conversation starter.
With some of the bigger festivals you don’t make that many friends anymore because you just stick with your own group. But with a smaller festival, if it’s all one big group, then conversation flows more easily. It will also be nice to have more space at shows to dance and to be a weirdo. I’ll still be up close though. I’m a diehard music fan!”
For tickets or more information on Fly Free Fest and how to get a $20 off a student ticket, visit flyfreefest.com, facebook.com/FlyFreeFest or Twitter @FlyFreeFest. Sign up to volunteer and get a free ticket!
Arpetrio
