Willow Tree Festival

Held each year on the second weekend in September, this is a two day, outdoor event in the city park. The festival features a large variety of live professional entertainment on two stages and amateur entertainment on a third stage. Food and craft booths, childrens’ activities, music for all tastes, mimes, magicians, storytellers, dancers and more.

Gordon’s Willow Tree Festival is the good gladness of community and creativity. It is enchanted, unhurried interlude, a time of lightness and all-rightness, of fun and frolicking, freshness and folksiness, of spontaneity and simplicity — and of sophistication, too. It is a lilting celebration that sparkles with the perception that Gordon, and the region to which it belongs, are “America’s best and brightest secret.”

The Lion’s Club Gazebo State – In the Center of the Festival grounds, this stage is always lively with a wide variety of professional musical performers. Many in the audience bring their own lawn chairs and pick their spot to take in every performance. Seating in the sunshine or in the shade is also provided by the festival. Performers on all the stages do several show during the wekend, and a program is provided for those who don’t want to miss a thing.

Dave Sweley Children’s Stage – Filled with the magic of clowns, puppets, and other joys of children’s entertainment, this stage has a new performance featured every half hour to 45 minutes. The stage is in Wayland Park on the north side of the festival grounds. These performers also rove throughout the festival to surprise and delight anyone they pass.

The Lanore Barth Community Stage – Located in the City Building across the street from Winship Park, this popular stage features performances by local and area talent. A neighbor or yours might just be appearing there. There is an elevator in the building for handicap access to all levels.