Dahlonega festival announces sponsors listing

DAHLONEGA - Dahlonega's Bear on the Square Mountain Festival announces its sponsors list for the 19th annual event, which will be held April 18-19.

Richard Davidow, who chairs the Sponsor Opportunities program for the non-profit festival organization, said, "Staging a festival this large every year requires a tremendous outpouring of time and financial support from local businesses, organizations and individuals. We've always had a large and loyal contingent of volunteers, and sponsorships are among our most important sources of funding and also a critical part of letting us carry out our mission, which is to help preserve the music, traditional craft and folkways of the Southern Appalachian region."

Signed on as major sponsors this year are the following:

* Festival Co-Sponsors: John C. Campbell Folk School and Medical Plaza 400, a
service of Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS)
* Founding Sponsor: The Pender Family
* Heritage Sponsor: Billy Roper Art
* MainStage Co-Sponsors: The Home Depot Dahlonega and Adams Insurance
Agency/Country Financial
* Food Court Sponsor: Cellular Sales/Verizon
* Marketplace Sponsor: Montaluce Winery/Restaurant
* Workshops Sponsor: LeafFilter
* Storytelling Sponsors: Southern Order of Storytellers, National Storytelling
Network, and Parkhurst Brothers Inc.
* Master Classes Sponsor: SouthEastern Bluegrass Association
* Auction Co-Sponsors - Shenanigans Restaurant & Irish Pub and the Bourbon
Street Grille
* Artist Sponsors: BB&T, The Smith House, and United Community Bank
* Folklife Sponsor: Appalachian Studies Center at UNG

Glenda Pender, president and co-founder of Bear on the Square Mountain Festival Inc., said, "Our heartfelt appreciation is expressed to the festival's major sponsors for their vital role helping make the festival possible every year. Our event celebrates and focuses on traditional mountain music and art, and our sponsors' support is vital to keep alive the heritage of these mountains, a treasure we don't want to let get away from us. Bear on the Square is a non-profit organization, with all proceeds going back into presenting the yearly event and supporting other efforts to maintain awareness of our regional culture."

For more details about the 2015 Bear Festival, including the complete lineup of performers and artists, schedules of all activities (including pre-festival events on Friday, April 17), information about sponsors, and updates between now and the event, visit www.bearonthesquare.org.