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It's a big country music party
The Stumpdodger Bash - this Fourth of July
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The Fourth of July weekend is just around the corner. For many people, it’s a perfect weekend to go camping, or catch up with friends and family, maybe kick up some dust to good tunes, and kick back with some refreshing beverages.

This Fourth of July, the Kickapoo Stump Dodger Campground will once again be holding the Stump Dodger Bash.

For the Third Annual Stump Dodger Bash, a number of activities will be offered in addition to the featured musical entertainment.

Canoe races will kick off the Bash on Thursday, July 4 at 2 p.m. Beanbag tosses and volleyball games will be held on the grounds. There will also be children’s activities planned for an area near the village pool.

Like every Fourth of July, the Gays Mills Fire Department will present the fireworks show at dusk, with KSD Campground as the front row seat.

Country musicians from the Midwest, as well as Tennessee, are getting amped up to perform at the Bash, which starts Friday, July 5 at 3 p.m. with Bruce Larson & The Rocky Mountain Band. With current hits like ‘All Because of You’ from the recent release ‘Whispers of My Heart,’ Larson’s style harkens to sounds of country western singers like George Strait and Conway Twitty.

The intense and handsome country performer John Maison hails from Nashville. Maison’s performance will start at 6 p.m. on Friday with hits like ‘Love is a Trip’ and ‘Fast Enough.’ Born in Chesterfield, Mich., Maison has not only been a hardworking singer and guitarist, but he’s also been writing songs since long before he started performing.

Tenacious talent Rachel Holder headlines the Bash with her passionate pipes for pop country. “Unique, formidable, and unstoppable” are words used to describe her by music critics. Holder’s first single ‘Chocolate’ gives a taste of her bright and sweet sense of humor. Her current single ‘Five Days’ also holds a fun, yet meaningful, lesson to young ladies to not sweat the break-ups.

Holder showed the public her genuine confidence at the age of 15, when she politely asked Vince Gill to let her join him in singing ‘Oklahoma Swing,’ while he performed at an event in her hometown of Chattanooga. In her spare time, the singer travels to schools and talks with students as part of her ‘Don’t Text and Drive’ campaign. With Holder’s solid vocals and youthful energy, she’s expected to move the Stump Dodger Bash crowd.

On Saturday, July 6, the show starts at 4 p.m. with Mike McAbee and his wild stories of life in the Midwest to accompany his musical performance. His song ‘20 Cars’ was featured on the radio show Car Talk. Poignant observations of the Midwest’s high ratio of bars to homes and other places is captured in his song ‘Wisconsin Small Town Polka,’ with the concluding line “near-beer means it’s close-by.” People of all ages will enjoy McAbee’s zany entertainment range.

Following McAbee at 6 p.m. on Saturday, the Stump Dodger Bash welcomes back Kari & Billy, the dynamite fiddle and guitar duo from Nashville. Last year at the Bash, “the crowd was mesmerized” watching their performance, according to campground owner Jim Showen.

A violinist since the age of seven, Kari had classical music training. She began her career performing at county and state fairs with her sisters. Billy grew up loving country music, and in his early twenties found the gift of his own voice.

“Kari and Billy show an amazing amount of heart in the music they write together, and you’ll be able to feel it,” according to Allison Showen, who made the decision along with her husband Jim to hire the duo for last year’s event.

The Bash closes with the Paul Avers Band at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Also returning performers, the band from Naperville, Ill.  enjoys playing covers of popular artists, like Blake Shelton and Keith Urban, as well as doing their own material. They have enjoyed traveling with Randy Travis and Trace Adkins. Avers sings with genuineness, and the band’s three-piece harmonies have been known to move crowds inside and out.

As a reminder, children under 16 are welcome free of charge with a paying adult at the Stump Dodger Bash. Weekend passes for the event are $35, and day passes are $20. Camping is available. Food and beverages will also be sold on site.

The Kickapoo Stump Dodger Campground is welcoming everyone to stay in Gays Mills for Fourth of July weekend, and enjoy a celebration of country music, food, dance, camping and great company at the Stump Dodger Bash.

 If you have any questions , please call the Showen Company office at 608-735-4929 and check out the Stump Dodger Bash website at www.stumpdodgerbash.com. Or email:

info@ksdcampground.com.

The Kickapoo Stump Dodger Campground is definitely looking forward to seeing you at their Third Annual Stump Dodger Bash.