Oz-Stravaganza! 2013 is a great weekend destination!

Sometimes you need one in the shade.

   Oz-Stravaganza!, residents and visitors to Chittenango, New York, and munchkins throughout all the worlds could not have hoped for a better Oz-Strava-Saturday!  Well, to be honest, it could have been a little cooler. Some folks braved the shadows of old houses to avoid the blistering rays of our closest star (well... second closest - the closest star was in the parade today. You know who you are :)

This sunburn refuge house is the home of a great many birds.

The Free Oz Parking is on McDonnell St.

   The Oz-Stravaganza! Twitter Feed (@ozstravaganza) was live all day keeping festival goers abreast of the events of the day.  From tips on free parking to where to find the best Balloon Walk, @ozstravaganza was there!  The children enjoyed the rides, as always.  It was good to see that in addition to the long-time favorites, there were some new rides spicing up the already charged atmosphere.  Food and Fun - Shopping and more - all with the sounds of talented musicians filling the air with their formless form of art from afar.

Yes - you can walk INSIDE the Balloon!

   The Parade went off without a hitch. All the usual suspects were marching to show off their local pride and support for this Oz-tastic festival that honors L. Frank Baum and the various art his works have inspired.

   While the lines to see the Special Guests were long at times, I have to wonder if Glinda's Royal Tent is the best kept secret of Oz-Stravaganza! While "those in the know" are no strangers to the pleasantries of Glinda's Royal Tent - I fear the masses may not understand the treasures that are being housed within its cool and windy walls.

   The treasures I speak of may be completely missed by the fool passing through, seeking a North-West Passage to the privies (which is never to be found).  For the treasures that sit within those royal tent walls are distributed and hidden within a great many people. They are the treasures of Intuition, Creativity, Compassion, Passion, and Love.  You need only ask the preacher next door to understand which of these is the greatest.

   I'm talking about the Authors, and Actors, their loved ones who write and act, and those who teach us of some of the greatest deeds done in the pages of fiction, the stages of the past and the present, and connect us to yesterday's dreams to give us fuel to reach for tomorrow's unthinkables.

Motion Picture Players from "After The Wizard"

   This truly magical place, hidden in plain sight, should be your destination tomorrow.  You do not want to miss your opportunity to meet these truly ozsome human beings. Take a moment to get a signature - look into their eyes - feel your commonality. This place is aptly named "Glinda's Royal Tent" - for we have Royalty of the truest kind among us, here in Chittenango, New York. In your meeting, who knows what magic may happen? Perhaps a divine spark will be kindled in your soul - and you will join their ranks.  Perhaps you are destined to sit among those who are quietly leading us to a better future; or, perhaps you will be a new inspiration for one of their next great performances, be it on paper or stage. You won't know, unless you go. May Your Wisdom and Will prevail!

   While working on more material for this blog post, specifically some info on the Word Wizards, my laptop over-heated... Damn YOU Wicked Witch... Damn YOU!  So... more to come!

  There is one day left for this year's festival of creativity.  I will stop ruining all the hard work these good people have put towards being humble now - and bid you all a Happy Oz-Stravaganza! 2013

New Website for Oz-Stravaganza! 2012!

Come and check out the new look for our Oz-Stravaganza! 2012 website!

Follow the website as it develops!


Stay up to date with all of the latest information and news right here and on our website!


If you are looking for information from last year's event - you can still find it... for a limited time...


at ww2.oz-stravaganza.com.

Enjoy!

Setting The Stage...What's Coming in 2012!

2012 seems like a long way off, but the Oz-Stravaganza! committee is already hard at work planning the event. My responsibility includes booking the main stage and producing the Emerald City Idol competition, among other things. Next year is going to be AMAZING!

Many local and regional acts are already booked for the Main Stage (A sponsorship is still available- it would be the Community Stage - in case you are interested).

Local acts like Vada March, the LaValle's USA BlackBelt Champions Demo Team, and Shane Reed are already on board. Add to the mix regional recording artists Mark Zane and Friends, Fab Five Paul, and Bill Ali and suddenly it is shaping up to be something special!

Lastly a national recording artists and 80's/90's hitmaker and Billboard top 20 artist will headline the Main Community Stage (details still being finalized, but we are getting close- exciting)!

As for Emerald City Idol- auditions held at a local mall will add to the talent pool, and there is a change of date coming. Idol winners will be performing at the Main Community Stage on Sunday and a fun time will certainly be had by all.

So here is the bottom line...If you are NOT a fan of OZ in general- that's OK. There will be plenty of awesome entertainment for you next year in oz...and if you are a fan- three words pop to mind...

BEST YEAR EVER!

We'll see you in June in L. Frank Baum's hometown- Chittenango, NY
Oz-Stravaganza! 2012 - June 1-3
www.oz-stravaganza.com

Shane Reed Joins Line up at Main Stage

Local recording artist Shane Reed will join the Oz-Stravaganza! main stage FREE concert series! Shane will play some of his favorites and some originals at 11am Saturday on the Oz-Stravaganza! main stage!

All Things Oz

All Things Oz is the name being used for 211 Genesee St., Chittenango, NY 13037. The building houses an Oz-Stravaganza store and Oz collection. The collection will show items from Baum the Man, Baum's works, the MGM movie, other Oz works, and the history of Oz in Chittenango. A special exhibit: "Celebrating Dorothy" echoes this year's them for the weekend.

During Oz-Stravaganza, June 3-5, 2011 "Judy Garland: The Dressing of a Legend" will be available for viewing at the building. This is a collection of dresses worn by Judy Garland owned by Michael Siewert. Come and see over 15 items of clothing worn by Garland during various shows and concerts. View the dresses and view video of Garland wearing each item.

For more information call 315 687-6250.

Paul Bienvenue Joins Oz-Stravaganza! 2011 guest list!

Paul R. Bienvenue is the author of "The Book Collector's Guide to L. Frank Baum and Oz," which examines all of Baum's published book-length works with unprecedented simplicity and clarity, and additionally covers the Oz books of his major successors. The book is thoroughly illustrated with hundreds of photos of rare books, artwork, posters and related ephemera, most in full color. The book has been awarded the 2009 Gold Medal for Best Reference Book by the Independent Publisher's Book Awards (the 13th Annual "IPPYs"), as well as Silver Medals from the Eric Hoffer Awards and the Benjamin Franklin Awards. Paul is the proprietor of March Hare Books, a rare book service specializing in Baum and Oz-related material.



The Oz-Stravaganza! festival held June 3-5 in Chittenango, NY is shaping up to be the BEST Oz Festival EVER! Authors and authorities, Original 1939 MGM "Wizard of Oz" actors, Baum family decendants, and a host of surprises! Make your plans now to attend Oz-Stravaganza! 2011.

All Purpose String Band plays Oz-Stravaganza! Main Stage!

The All Purpose String Band is making an appearance at Oz-Stravaganza! this year. Coming to the Main Stage at 1pm on SUNDAY, this local favorite string/bluegrass group will bring their particular brand of true string acoustic music to the fans in Chittenango for FREE Sunday June 5th.

While there are bleacher seats available, lawn chairs are suggested!