Diamondstone Festival brings together food, family, friends

Sep. 6—TAHLEQUAH — Following the "dark and dirty mile," campers made their way back into the campground at Diamondhead Resort for the annual Diamondstone Music Festival, a name given to the avenue when the festival first started.

Duranda Jackson and Lemuel Swicegood, now living in Siloam Springs, are excited about the festival, and together they have been attending the event for five years. Both attended before they became a couple. Their camp was just outside the fenced area where the main bandstand and food vendors are set up.

"It's a tradition. Everybody out here has become family," Jackson said. "You can hear the music, people walk by and we all mingle."

Everybody camps in the same spot every year, Swicegood said. He said all of the bands park just down the row where their camp was set up.

"I've cooked breakfast for quite a few bands throughout the years," Jackson said.

A band called The Dead South from Canada was at the festival a couple of years ago, and Jackson cooked them breakfast.

"Those boys came from Canada and they didn't know what to think about Oklahoma," Jackson said.

The couple got together in 2020 while floating the river.

"COVID hit and I got a boyfriend," Jackson said.

Swicegood expressed the sentiment most people held — that the event was a yearly family reunion.

"A lot of these people we only see once a year," Swicegood said.

The road running back into the campground is called the "dark and dirty mile," Swicegood said.

Most of the VIPs have checked in, and food and craft vendors are set up in the campground area, and Manager Jana Deaton said they are looking forward to Chris Cagle arriving Friday, Sept. 6.

Cagle is scheduled to play Friday night at 10 p.m. on the main stage. Bands playing prior to Cagle that night are DC & the Night Marshalls, Jacob Tovar, No Justice and John Fullbright.

Angie and Mike Wall drove down from St. Louis for their sixth year at the festival. Angie said they come for the music and to see friends they have made over the years. Struggling with their tent, Mike said, they were glad they weren't in their usual spot by the river.

"We usually go down by the river but we wanted to stay up here because this tent's kicking our butt, and we didn't want people to see us putting up this new tent," Mike said laughing with Angie.

An SUV with a canopy attached is Scott Huchteman's sleeping quarters for the four days of the festival. Huchteman is from Oologah and has been coming to the annual event for seven years. His favorite part is reuniting with friends he only sees once a year.

"It's kind of like an old family reunion," Huchteman said. "Some of them I do see during the year because we have the same kind of interest in music and sometimes we even plan things together."

Huchteman said he prefers the smaller festival.

"It used to be bigger with the Turnpike Troubadoors, but now that it's smaller, I have more fun," Huchteman said. "We all have a ball and it's something we plan for every year. As soon as we get home next week we'll all start talking about next year."

The first year Huchteman came to the festival, he was sitting across the street at the deserted gas station, waiting in line to get in, wondering how the event would be.

"In fact, I met the Walls [in that line]," Huchteman said. "I didn't know a soul; pulled up there and met those people and we are still friends today."

At 63, he said he is still "doing this stuff" and is fond of the campground.

A group of three men gathered under a tree, drinking beer and conversing with two new friends they had just met.

"I wouldn't want to be in any other place right now," said Wayne Graham. "These people are outstanding, and the river — it doesn't get any better.

James Klein said he loves this campground because he grew up in it and his parents always brought him to the river.

"I've been coming since the third one," Klein said. "That's getting on eight or nine years. And I've met some of the best people here."

Dustin Oppy was the third member of the tight group, and neither of them knew the others before they met at the event one year.

"This is like Christmas and the best thing in my life, and the thing I look forward to every year," Klein said. "Hang out all weekend with beautiful weather, with a beautiful river and wonderful music with my favorite people. We just sit and drink and laugh and eat and listen to great music, and hang out and party all weekend. I wish somebody would pay me to do this."

Learn more

For more information on the music lineup and available facilities, go to diamondstonefestival.com/home.