Wheatstock in Helix sets records
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HELIX – The 16th annual Wheatstock Music Festival was a complete success this past weekend. The event at the Quantum 9 Arena in Helix grew from one to two days. Both days saw sell-out crowds. Attendance on Friday was about 1,200. An estimated 1,050 attended on Saturday.
Three donated guitars were auctioned off during the festival. The guitars were donated by Pendleton Music Company, Hot Poop in Walla Walla, and Brooks Painting. A total of $10,780 was raised with the auctions alone.
The final tally of ticket sales has not yet been completed, but organizers are optimistic. One said that for the first time ever the Wheatstock bank account will run in the six figures.
The festival gives out its earnings for worthy causes. Cross the Divide, a veterans’ support group in Wallowa County, the Helix School District’s band program, and scholarships for graduating students at Griswold High School benefit from the money raised at Wheatstock, Eastern Oregon’s only nonprofit music festival.
Photo by Chris Clark via Wheatstock
