Walden’s Puddle Benefit Aug. 21

The 2010 Walden’s Puddle Puddle-Palooza benefit concert and festival has been scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 21, at Nashville’s Yogi Bear™ Jellystone Park, event organizers announced today.

Hosted this year by the Music Valley Merchants Association, the festival and concert raises funds for Walden’s Puddle Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center. Artists scheduled to perform include John Anderson, Lane Brody, Cerrito, Rodney Crowell and the Notorious Cherry Bombs, Jypsi, HLN news anchor Robin Meade, Victoria Shaw, Army Ranger and country artist Keni Thomas, Emily West and additional special guests to be announced soon.  GAC’s Nan Kelley will serve as MC of the event.

All proceeds benefit the non-profit facility, located approximately 20 minutes from downtown Nashville in Joelton, Tenn. The Walden’s Puddle organization receives a substantial portion of its annual financial support each year from the daylong event.

“The new board of Walden’s Puddle is grateful to the Music Valley Merchants Association and Jellystone Park™ for teaming up with us for our first ‘Puddle-Palooza!’ said Walden’s Puddle Board Chair and recording artist Brody. “It is a fresh start for all of us, and God willing, this event will bring more awareness to the important work Walden’s Puddle does every single day in giving injured and orphaned wildlife a second chance, as well as bring community support and patronage back to Music Valley, which was so impacted by the flood.”

Festival gates open at noon, with the live concert kicking off at 3 p.m.  Tickets are $20 (tax-deductible) and available online here. Hard tickets can be purchased at Jellystone Park (2572 Music Valley Drive, Nashville, TN, 37214 (615) 889-4225) or at the Willie Nelson and Friends General Store and Museum in Music Valley (2613 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN, 37214 (615) 885-1515). Children under 12 and accompanied by an adult will be admitted free.

This year’s festival also serves to raise public awareness of the local Music Valley merchants, which are open for business following the historic flooding in Nashville on May 1-2, 2010. Music Valley offers visitors access to more than 15 hotels, eight restaurants, several campgrounds, nightlife and live entertainment options and numerous shopping and family-friendly destinations.

“The merchants of Music Valley at Opryland are very excited to sponsor the upcoming ‘Puddle-Palooza’ event at Jellystone Park,” says Music Valley Merchants Association President, Mark Hughes. “This will be a great afternoon of fun and music to benefit the animals and efforts of the Walden’s Puddle organization. Our Music Valley area took a substantial blow from the flooding this past May, but we are getting back on track and events such as this are exactly what we need to raise awareness and bring more visitors to our area.”

In addition to the concert, other family-friendly activities offered at Jellystone Park include swimming, hiking, mini-golf, hayrides, volleyball, appearances by Jellystone’s Yogi Bear and more. Food vendors provide options ranging from hot dogs and hamburgers to Mexican and barbecue.  Visit www.NashvilleJellystone.com for more information.