Here are a few details I didn't include originally that bear on some of the suggestions provided thus far. Thanks for those already sent.

1. I'm technically representing the local historical and genealogical society so consideration of the historical aspects of the music are a given and I'm expecting help from others in the society with that.

2. No ethnic group or nationality will be excluded; however, the main event planners have already begun planning specific events during the week of celebration for most groups/cultures except (and I'm mystified over this) the Scots/Irish (or Celtic to use a more common term) culture.

3. We've already begun trying to get educational tv interest as well as interest from a couple of the better known history/culture broadcast specialists known on local tv.

4. I've been trying to get interest from the main planning committee for a special effort in getting video and audio professional recording service invovlement so that a post-event video and music album could be considered to help defray costs not covered by the local govt. appropriation and sponsor funds.

5. I fully expect that arrangements will be made for live radio broadcasting of event programs that are suitable for such. In fact, there may be several stations interested in doing something of that nature,including some from Lousiana (the county borders the state line with LA).

6. I would like to be able to have this set up as an event that could become an annual feature if it's successful. There are a lot of locals that are musically inclined which should support such an event; however, many of them equate folk music to bluegrass and Southern gospel music, both of which are more recent genres at least in the performance techniques and many of the songs. Although I'd not advocate banning more recent musical genres, I would want the festival to promote older music and new music about older times.

That's all I can think of at the moment. Keep the suggestions coming