Pubdate: Sun, 22 May 2005
Source: Free Lance-Star, The (VA)
Copyright: 2005 The Free Lance-Star
Contact:  http://fredericksburg.com/flshome
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1065
Author: Edie Gross

SUN SHINES ON HAYMAKER FESTIVAL AND CONCERTGOERS SOAK UP THE MUSIC AND FUN

A can of Foster's in one hand and a spool of string in the other,
Brian Caruso managed repeatedly to coax his kite into the air
yesterday afternoon.

Keeping it there, however, was more challenging.

"I'm not that good at it yet," the D.C. resident said as his kite
nose-dived into the grass beyond the Haymaker Music Festival's Oakley
Stage.

The breeze that so easily carried notes of bluegrass and folk music
from one end of Spotsylvania County's Oakley Farm to the other was
fickle when it came to Caruso's needs.

But the father of 7-month-old Alexandra Justine swore he'd keep trying
so he could teach his daughter how to do it someday.

"When was the last time you taught yourself how to do something new?"
asked Caruso, who worked on his kite-flying skills with brother Brett.
"That's what this is all about."

The other 3,000 or so music lovers who attended this year's Haymaker
event were equally relaxed, tossing Frisbees and twirling Hula Hoops
while reveling in the rhythms of nearly 30 bands.

"It's been good overall," said Seth Goodrich, a Haymaker regular who
drove up from Richmond in a Volkswagen van with girlfriend Kamaron
Owens. "Lots of good people, good times."

Festivalgoers complained that some Spotsylvania sheriff's deputies
seemed a tad aggressive, unzipping tents and shining flashlights into
cars to inquire about drugs. Several said that as long as they handed
over their weed--albeit reluctantly--they weren't charged.

Last year, officers arrested 17 people, including a New Jersey man
with more than 5,000 hits of Ecstasy on him.

Deputies working the event yesterday said the crowd had been
relatively well-behaved, though they had no information on arrests.

"It seems like the cops are really tense about the drugs and stuff,
and that seems to bother some people," said Clifford Bailey, who drove
down from Springfield, Pa. "I'm not a big drug fanatic. I'm just here
to have a good time."

Bailey and plenty of others spent a cold and rainy Friday night
camping on Oakley Farm, but that didn't seem to dampen their enthusiasm.

"The first night was muddy and wet, but we loved it anyway," said
"Spirit," a bearded man who danced around the farm wearing a Grateful
Dead cape.

Campers woke to warmth and sunshine yesterday.

"What a beautiful day. We are so blessed today," said Adrienne Young,
who performed on the main stage with the band Little Sadie.

"I think we need to have a seasonal Haymaker," she said after the
show. "We're really excited to be here."

Young and members of the Beals family, who own the 3,800-acre Oakley
Farm, urged the crowd to support community agriculture and locally
grown produce.

The Oakley property is actually a working cattle, timber and
small-grain farm. The Beals family started holding concerts there four
years ago to supplement the agricultural operation.

Concertgoers camped in hayfields, and cattle lounged a short walk from
the parking area. Not far from the main stage, vendors sold everything
from sandals and incense to shish kebabs and egg rolls.

Spotsylvania couple Misty Hartsfield and Joey Ayo browsed in the
Little Hippie clothing tent, shopping for pint-sized tie-dyed outfits
for their baby, due Oct. 31.

The couple spent Friday night at home because of the rain, but they
intended to soak up the sun yesterday.

"It's just so nice to sit back and relax," Hartsfield
said.

Seated outside the back of her van, Richmond resident Adrian Sober
used a propane cooker to fry up bacon and eggs for herself and her
boyfriend, Jesse Doran. The weather, the music and their camping spot
were great this year, Sober said.

"It's been beautiful," she said. "It's definitely worth the money."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin