Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
One week before the 2005 Oregon Jamboree opens its gates, the annual event is poised to do better than ever.
Ticket sales, as of July 22, were better than 2003 when the country music festival featured Alan Jackson and sold more than 9,000 tickets, including many last-minute sales.
Total ticket and camping sales were more than $700,000, almost $50,000 ahead of 2003. The 2005 Jamboree has 8,500 tickets sold.
The Jamboree runs July 29-31. The three-day event provides revenues to the Sweet Home Economic Development Group for use in economic development projects.
“We don’t have what I’d call a superstar,” Event Manager Peter LaPonte said. “What we do have is a variety package.”
One of the main draws is Merle Haggard, a country legend with a career spanning five decades, LaPonte said. “We’ve got a lot of great shows. We’ve got a lot of variety.”
The shows range from old-time honky tonk to the latest in country music, alternative country, comedy and blues.
The Williams and Ree comedy team returns to the program after appearing on the Jamboree lineup in the early 1990s. Little Big Town will bring an acoustic, unplugged set. Cross Canadian Ragweed brings an alternative edge.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing Haggard, (Travis) Tritt and Lonestar ? all of them really,” LaPonte said. “If I could only see one show, it would have to be the Haggard-Lonestar show.
“I think you’re going to see superb performances (the goosebumps-on-your-back kind) from SheDaisy, definitely coming from Lonestar. It’s definitely going to come from Tritt.”
All three of those could measure up to the legendary 2002 Clay Walker performance, LaPonte said. “Every show’s great, but I’m talking about the ‘Oh, wow, I’m never going to forget that show….’
“We do a patron survey and ask for information on the acts. The number one comment on all patron surveys was “bring Neal McCoy back.” We thought the show was such a hit and where it sits pricewise, you couldn’t go wrong with bringing McCoy back.”
The Jamboree has made a variety of small improvements to the ground to help it look more professional, LaPonte said. For example, the event has changed its signage inside and out. Going into the event, the ribbons and barrels have been replaced by stanchions to guide the lines.
The Jamboree has added some 170 campsites at the rodeo grounds this year by permission of the owner, LaPonte said. The event has close to 1,300 campsites. As of July 20, 1,135 of those were sold. That translates to nearly 5,000 people.
“Next week will be really busy,” LaPonte said Friday. The last couple of years have been busy the last couple of weeks, but they’ve gotten even busier at the gate.
Key Bank is the event’s presenting sponsor this year, LaPonte said, after a six-year run by CenturyTel in that role.
Traffic changes
Eighteenth Avenue between Grape Street and Long Street will be closed from 7 a.m. on July 29 to 9 p.m. on July 31 for the Oregon Jamboree.
Access will be restricted to residents and vehicles with festival permits.
No through traffic will be allowed on 18th Avenue between Long Street and the Jim Riggs Community Center. From Long Street to the concert entry will be designated handicapped parking only. There will be no parking between concert entry and Grape Street.
Residents between Long Street and concert entry will acecss their homes from the Long and 18th intersection. Residents between concert entry and Grape will use Mountain View Road and 18th to access their homes.
Lower Sankey Park will be closed to public access from 6 a.m. on July 29 through noon on Aug. 1.
Arts and Crafts Festival
The Fourth Annual Sweet Home Arts and Crafts Festival will run July 30-31 adjacent to the Oregon Jamboree grounds at Sweet Home High School.
It will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is free.
Dixie Jewitt, of Dayton, will display two of her large-scale iron statues on the corner of 18th and Long during the festival.
People are invited to come and browse the arts and crafts booths and talk to the crafters themselves. The festival will include everything from handmade pine cone clocks and log furniture to handmade jewelry and candles.
It also includes fine art by local artists, including paintings, pen and ink drawings, stone art and miniature woodcarvings.
For more information, persons may call Joyce Geil at 367-4404 or Alice Grovom at 367-5231.
Jamboree postal service
The Sweet Home Post Office will host a temporary postal station and special postmark at the Oregon Jamboree.
Sweet Home Postmaster Sheryl Lamm and the team at Sweet Home Post Office will be at the Jamboree July 29-31.
The Postal Service’s country music station will act as a regular post office during the event, offering stamps and mailing services.