Win A Stelling Banjo

With musical instruments being cranked out of big factories every day, Geoff Stelling's handmade banjos are a true rarity. The Afton-based business produces just 200 or so banjos annually. Geoff's son, Jimmy, who works with his dad in the business, is a banjo player who has played music professionally. He's been playing Stelling banjos since he was 8 years old. Together, the family has dedicated themselves to making what Geoff calls a "better banjo" - working 25 hours plus on each banjo - spread over six to eight weeks. A process that is precise because you have to wait an ample amount of time for the glue to dry and the finishes to cure between coats, among other details that make Stelling's banjos stand out in the industry. And now you could win one.

The Bellflower, which retails for $4,300 and is available at approximately 40 retailers worldwide, is making an appearance on this side of the mountain, with a special drawing at a bluegrass festival to raise funds for the Wayne Theatre in Waynesboro, VA. Tickets are available now in advance of the upcoming "Bluegrass, Blue Jeans and Barbecue" event on June 14 at Laurick Farms in Fisherville. For a $10 chance, anyone could own their own Stelling banjo with proceeds benefitting the Wayne Theatre Alliance, a 501(c)3 organization based in Waynesboro. The non-profit group is working to renovate and restore a closed theatre into a first-class performing arts center.

"We are excited that we can offer a Stelling banjo to collectors and others in the community at our first ever bluegrass festival," said Clair Myers, executive director of the Wayne Theatre Alliance. "We know that whoever the lucky person is to take home the banjo will treasure it, and we look forward to the boost that the event will bring to our project."

For more information on tickets for the Bellflower Stelling Banjo or the bluegrass festival, contact the Wayne Theatre Alliance at (540) 943-9999 or www.waynetheatre.org.