More than 2,000 people came out on August 12, 2007 to hear music and ride the Wisconsin
& Southern’s beautifully refurbished passenger train at the Gandy Dancer Festival in Madison’s Central Park. A nice variety of music and train-related programs, locally prepared food and beverages and seating in the shade of tents helped to create a mellow, family-friendly atmosphere.

For the first few hours of the festival the crowd included a large contingent of parents and grandparents bringing kids to ride the train. Many of them enjoyed music on the main stage while waiting for the train. Jefferson County kicked off the festival at 11:00 a.m. with Round the Bend following at 2:45 p.m. As often happens at outdoor festivals, the kids enjoyed dancing in the open space between the seating area and the stage.

Meanwhile, in the Train Show Tent, Ellis Bauman enjoyed a steady stream of traffic at the SWBMAI table. Informational brochures were available along with a sign-up sheet for people who are interested in learning more about the organization. Tee shirts with the new SWBMAI logo were selling well.

Members of Jefferson County led an enthusiastic Bluegrass jam at 2:45-4:45 p.m. Don Meyer, General Manager of Mid-Continent Railway Museum, co-sponsor of the festival, enjoyed seeing people moving about the festival grounds carrying their instrument cases. Leo Edelstein, emcee in the Train Show Tent, described the jam as “well-attended and lively.”

The festival ended with sets by the Nob Hill Boys and headliners, the Alan Munde Gazette. By this time, Bluegrass fans predominated in the audience, and they responded warmly to both bands.

The festival steering committee would welcome feedback from SWBMAI members while preparing to consider whether there might be a Second Annual Gandy Dancer Festival. Direct your comments to Carolyn Hegeler or Johanna Fabke.

There’s also a nice write-up of the Gandy Dancer fest in the Wisconsin State Journal.