String fling: Ukulele festival returns to Arcadia

ARCADIA — Back by popular demand, the UkeFest will return to the Arcadia Round Barn from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Bands and solo acts will include The Ukulelians, Misspent Ukes, Janice Francis-Smith, the Tulsa Ukulele Club, Jeff Howard, Dustin Cooper, Frank and Scott, Susan House and Stardust.

Renowned classical guitarist Edgar Cruz will even get in on the fun this year, and is scheduled to make a cameo appearance on the ukulele about 1:30 p.m.

Shortly before 5 p.m., The Big Ol' Uke Band, composed of several of the acts, will take the stage for a finale. This will be the third UkeFest for the Round Barn, which features live music every weekend. The festival stage will be outdoors beneath the shade of the giant elm tree on the north side of the barn. Guests can bring blankets and lawn chairs or sit at the picnic tables.

Ukulele players not on the program are invited to bring their instruments for jam sessions to be held inside the Round Barn. The UkeFest will take the place of the monthly Round Barn Rendezvous, which will return in October.

Food will be available from the OK Taco Truck, which will be parked across the street near the barn's historical marker. Admission is free but donations will be accepted for the maintenance of the barn, which was built in 1898 and is owned and operated by the nonprofit Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society.

The Arcadia Round Barn is six miles east of Interstate 35 on historic Route 66 and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.

For more information about live music at the barn, call Joe Baxter at 405-833-1350.

PROVIDED Jeff Howard is among the musicians on the lineup for the Sept. 12 UkeFest at the Arcadia Round Barn.