Jump to Navigation

Bringing Woody Home

Twenty years ago the very first hometown tribute for Woody Guthrie was recorded live at the Crystal Theatre in Okemah, Oklahoma, on December 1, 1988. Organized by Larry Long with the help and guidance of the people and children of Okemah, it was the culmination of a three-year residency.

Long spent those years working with the children to bring back the heart and soul of Woody Guthrie by introducing them to Guthrie's songs and the music that inspired him. The work that Long did with the Okemah community grew into the annual Woody Guthrie festival, still held every year on Woody's birthday.

Bringing Woody Home was the first Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song celebration and is now the primary program of Community Celebration of Place of which Larry Long is the Executive Director.

Twenty years later Larry returned to Okemah, OK, to revisit and give thanks to the places and people he met all those years ago who were the inspiration for his life’s work.

For more information:

www.bringingwoodyhome.org
www.woodyguthrie.org

News & Events

Cashton, WI - 8th Grade Leadership will host a Cashton Community Celebration in honor of Mrs. Marian Sullivan Schwarz’s 104th Birthday at the Cashton Community Hall on Wednesday, October 18, 2017, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM.  

Community Celebration of Place is partnering with Little Free Library on Saturday, May 21, in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the first-ever Little Free Library Festival.

Join highly acclaimed author Kent Nerburn and Larry Long, Executive Director of Community Celebration of Palce for an evening of songs, stories and music.

Save Our History!

During 2017-2018, it is a primary program of Community Celebration of Place to transfer their collection into archives that will be open to the public for generations to come

We can not do this work without you.

Testimonials

My heartfelt thanks to Larry Long and all the voices from which our history continues to generate encouragement, enthusiasm and wisdom.

Arlo Guthrie, Songwriter, Son of Woody Guthrie

Read more