By Gary MeyerThis year’s Center of the World Festival at the Pine Mountain Village gazebo offers an interesting mix of talent, both local and national. In between performances there will also be nature walks to explore Mount Pinos, on Saturday and Sunday mornings, led by Naturalist Joel Robinson.COWfest opening festivities begin on Friday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. with storytelling by local yarn-spinners.

Saturday’s Playwright Competition (presented twice, starting at 1:30 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m.) will feature short plays with titles such as A Cold Day In…, How to Ensoul the World, One Thing, On the Rail Siding and The Bu.. Stops Here. Audience members who have seen one entire set of plays will vote for the winners. You can attend twice and vote twice if you wish.

 The Lori Smith Memorial Performing Arts Scholarship Award will also be presented at the afternoon performance.

On Sunday at noon there will be music by Homemade Jam, a recap of the storytelling and playwright contests, followed by the Playwright Peer Judges Awards and the Playwright $500 Grant Prize Award.

At 1:15 p.m. is the Songwriting Competition followed by People’s Choice Voting.

After music from Angela Sloan and the Last Call, the festival weekend will finish up with the Songwriting Peer Judges Award, the Songwriting $500 People’s Choice Grant Prize award, closing ceremonies and music by Ghosha.

To see full stories with photos, please go to The Mountain Enterprise e-Edition

(login required)

You can have your newspaper delivered via mail! Just call 661-245-3794.

Also, this story and others are available right now at newsstands throughout the Mountain Communities.