Published: May 09, 2008 09:49 am      

Festival is ready to rock

Listen close and you might hear Echoes of the Past ringing out through Echo Ridge.

Or, better yet, make plans to attend the free two-day festival May 17 and 18 at Arrowhead State Park in Canadian and find out about those echoes for yourself.

They come from way back — long before Wal-Mart Supercenters and convenience stores.

“There will be artists producing and showing items made and used before there were shopping centers available for purchasing these items,” McAlester Archeological Society Vice President Connie Masters said. “The artists will explain how such items as tools, weapons, toys and others were made and used.

“Hands-on interaction will be allowed to help understand what our ancestors did to survive and provide food, shelter, clothing and entertainment for their families.”

Among the demonstrations planned are: flint knapping by Neil Garrison, Russell Davis, Reece Hairod and others; Bois d’arc bows by Carl Lester; pine needle baskets by mavis Hairod; toys and games by Sam L. Still; blow guns by Thomas Purdin and the Atl Atl demonstration and throw with Dr. Leland Bement.

“There will be a mock excavation to try your hand at, with Jana Brown of the Museum of the Great Plains,” Masters said, adding that there will be plenty of “items of interest to view, purchase or participate in.”

The festival is being put on by both the McAlester and Tahlequah archeological societies. It is made possible by a grant from the Oklahoma Humanities Council.

People who are already immersed in archeology will be able to restock their tool bags, Masters said.

Ribbons will be awarded in historic dress competitions, and demonstrations of the Atl Atl throw, the bow and arrow shoot and the blow gun shoot.

The dress competition will be Saturday at 4 p.m.

The festival is from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Arrowhead State Park, which is north of McAlester on U.S. Highway 69.

For more information contact Masters at 339-4226 or e-mail samok56@yahoo.com. Also, Thomas Purdin at 456-1977 or e-mail majtom46@yahoo.com.

Contact Susan Brittingham at 421-2029 or e-mail sbrittingham@mcalesternews.com.