The Bluegrass and Chilifest is relocating to Pryor, Oklahoma!
After four years of consistent revenue losses, Mayor Dalton Self has made the executive decision to discontinue funding the festival this year. The staggering total of $240,208.78 in lost revenue over the years is a significant figure. The citizens have expressed their desire to cease Wagoner’s involvement in this banjo-filled debacle.
Dell Davis, also known as Eugenia Bostic, not only owns the festival but also serves as the City of Wagoner’s special events coordinator. Her husband’s band has consistently profited from the festival and Christmas concert series. This dual role presents a serious conflict of interest for a municipal entity.
The situation has been exacerbated by contracts being signed without council approval, promises of funds and amenities made without proper authorization, and even some council members accepting free passes. The City of Wagoner is eager to bid farewell to this financially draining venture, shrouded in secrecy and funded by taxpayer dollars.
This decision was not politically motivated; rather, it reflects the wise judgment of a new mayor who is determined to address the questionable practices of city staff and council members involved in this affair.
Furthermore, during a past performance, Dell Davis publicly alluded to the possibility of being “lynched” on the very site where a teenage girl was hanged in 1914. It’s time for this southern belle to move on and perhaps find new ways to trouble and embarrass local businesses and citizens in another town.
So, if you happen to hear banjo music, rest assured it’s no longer echoing through the streets of Wagoner. Good riddance to what was, and I hope Pryor doesn’t regret investing their resources in this venture—hook, line, and stinky. 🎵🌟🪕
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