Mud Lake City Music Fest sees large turnout

MUD LAKE CITY—Nearly 700 visitors stopped by the “Biggest Little City in the Rainy River Valley” on Sunday to check out the entertainment and old-time artifacts during the ninth-annual Mud Lake City Music Fest there.
“We were really happy with how it went,” enthused Betty Salchert, who owns the museum-like “city” in La Vallee along with her husband, Wayne.
Last year’s event saw 650 signatures in the guest book so this year had more visitors, though Salchert said there still were people coming in who didn’t sign the book.
“I think we need to have a guest book at both entrances because some people come in the through the back,” she noted.
She said it seemed like there were a lot more attendees this year than last, but added perhaps it’s because more people stayed longer.
“There wasn’t as many people coming and going,” Salchert observed. “It was hot, but there was a nice breeze.”
As well, Salchert said the sound system, provided by Brian Harris, was much better than in past years, which may have enticed visitors to stay longer.
“People said you could hear the music all the way to the [parking lot], but it wasn’t blaring up front,” she remarked, adding the musicians also commented on how the sound system was better.
Some other new additions to the music fest were a few tents to provide shade, a separate tent with children’s music offered up by Charlene Gustafson, and the availability of ice cream treats.
“We always like to have something sweet. Last year we had chocolate bars and we thought we’d try ice cream this time,” Salchert remarked. “It went over well and so did the popcorn . . . the popper ran steady all day.”
Of course, the wide variety of talent was the highlight of the day. Performers came from all around to share their talents—from Vermilion Bay, Atikokan, Rainy River, Emo, Waterloo, and Birchdale, Mn.
There were solo acts, duets, and groups who provided everything from bluegrass to country and even classical.
Salchert noted while the entertainment was superb, she hadn’t expected the delay between performances to set and check microphones.
“But I guess there’s no way around it because the two stages are so close together, they can’t be checking mics when someone is performing,” she reasoned.
The Salcherts will be planning the music fest again for next year, but they aren’t sure how much further it will go beyond that.
“Every year that goes by, we say we’re not going to do it again, but people keep talking us into it,” she explained, noting she likes being able to offer a free event such as this for the community.
“I enjoy it,” she stressed. “It’s a lot of work, but each year we get more and more volunteers willing to help out and we really couldn’t do it without them, as well as the musicians.”
Salchert expects next year’s Mud Lake City Music Fest to be even bigger as they already have been thinking up some new ideas to feature.
So she encourages everyone to mark the event on their calendars—usually held on the fourth Sunday in August.
(Fort Frances Times)