Concerts

We have a fabulous lineup of concerts this year.  Moonwulf is our Guest of Honor, Marty Coady Fabish will grace us as Mistress of the Toast, and Interfilk is sending Ellen “Blade” McMicking on sortie.  Steve and Dortha Biernesser will perform.  Also, to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary Bill and Brenda Sutton will be providing us with a concert, and a reception in the con suite as well (they were married at OVFF).  Anyone with memories, photographs, et cetera, is requested to bring them to the con.

Pegasus Nominees Concert

On Friday night at 8-ish we host the Pegasus Nominees concert at which all of the songs nominated for the Pegasus Awards will be performed, giving everyone one last chance to hear them before voting.

Workshops

Mountain Dulcimer run by Peter Alway

Peter has a workshop on how to play the mountain (lap) dulcimer.  He has a few, but if you could bring any of your own to OVFF that would be appreciated.  Handouts for music will be supplied.

Washtub Bass run by Bob Passovoy

The ever-talented Dr. Bob has offered to show how to make a washtub bass with a few common tools, and (time permitting) a short lesson on how to play.  Materials provided.  Limited space.  Signups at Registration.

Beginning Voice run by Mark Bernstein

Mark will be doing a beginning voice class for 12 lucky people … all will sing, and please no audience (less stress for the class).

Performance run by Marty Coady Fabish

Marty will lead a workshop on how to get the most out of a perfromance.

Songwriting and DADGAD run by Michael “Moonwulf” Longcor

Wulf will lead a workshop on songwriting and what DADGAD tuning on a guitar can do to expand your options.

Yoga run by Mary Crowell & Teresa Powell

Mary and Teresa will lead the popular morning yoga workshops again this year. Bring your yoga mat if you have one.

More workshops in the offing . . .

Friday Night Goings-On

If you’ve been looking for a reason to show up early and stay late, here’s the first part!

Opening Ceremonies at 6:45 PM -ish
This year OVFF will have an Official Bagpiper, Bill McGeachin, who will pipe us in from the parking lot to the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party for Opening Ceremonies at 6:55 PM -ish.
Arrive at 6:45–ish to be part of the parade!

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party  at 7-ish
Our traditional Tea Party will start things off nicely.  Please Note: Hats (or Berets) will be required to attend.  If you bring no hat, we will provide one of ours.  In addition to our usual prizes for outstanding hats, this year we will also have a Special Prize of Best Beret (in honor of our Dorsai theme).

Dormouse Tea Party at 7-ish
Childrens’ Tea Party at the same time as Mad Hatter’s Party. Special friends (such as stuffed toys) are encouraged; hats are required, and if you don’t bring your own, you will be stuck with ours. 

Pegasus Nominees Concert at 8-ish

a chance to hear all songs nominated for the Pegasus Awards performed, before voting closes.

RPGs for Teens at 8-ish
Roleplaying games for teens: from Bruce Coulson

Memorial Filk at 10:30-ish
To commemorate those we’ve lost from the songcircle, following the Pegasus Nominees Concert and before the Open Filk.

Open Filk at 11:30-ish
Need we say more? Our raison d’être.

Children's Programming

Children's Programming will be available throughout the con with all the usual favorite activities: pool parties, a treasure hunt and games.

We would like to make parents aware that on Friday evening there will be a Dormouse's Tea-party that children may wish to attend instead of the Mad Hatter's Tea-party. Participants in the Dormouse's Tea-party are encouraged to bring a small friend (stuffed animal, toy, or doll), but like the Mad Hatter Tea-party, hats *are* required. Friends who don't bring their own will get stuck wearing one of ours.

Songwriting Competitions

This year, we have two contests, and four awards!! Yep, each contest will have two awards- Judges Choice and People's Choice!

The two contests this year will be:

Saturday: "No Sh**, There I Was" Tell us your tall tales, using original lyrics and either original or existing music.

Iron Filker (Sunday) : The topic and format will be announced on Friday at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

See the Contest Winners page for details of who has won in the past.

One-Shots/Twofers

Slots are selected by drawing – signup deadlines are midnight Friday night for the Saturday slots, and Saturday by 6 PM for Sunday slots.

Open Filking

Open filking was rampant, as usual, througout the con. Some was scheduled, some was ad-hoc, some was themed, some was pure chaos, and all was enjoyable.

Interfilk Auction

This year heralds the return of the ever-popular Interfilk Auction.  Come support the spread of filk All proceeds went to Interfilk.

Early Bird Filk

A number of con members have been showing up at the hotel on Thursday night.  We have arranged with the hotel to have an open filk room for an Early Bird Filk.  Note that water will not be provided – just the room.  If you do arrive early, please consider gophering to help set up the con suite.

Theme Filks

Theme filks are circles with a particular topic, or theme. Most of the time slots can be signed up for on a first come, first-served basis at the registration desk.

Pegasus Awards Banquet

The Pegasus Awards Banquet on Saturday evening is an elegant catered affair at which the winners of this years Pegasus Awards are announced.

Farewell Jam Session

OVFF ends with the traditional farewell jam session.

Dead Dog Dinner Run

Following the Farewell Jam Session, the traditional pilgramage to BD's Mongolian BBQ for the "Dead Dog" dinner will be made.

Dead Dog Filk

Once the filkers are fed, it's time to get back to the business of singing until the last person either falls asleep mid-refrain or gets carried off to bed.