Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival in Morehead, Ky. has become a family tradition for one Chapmanville family. It started more than 15 years ago when Virgil Wheatley first went to the festival with friends. As the years passed, other members of his family have joined in on the annual bluegrass vacation the third week of Sept. and it is now something the whole family looks forward to all year, his wife Pat says.

The 17th annual festival runs this year from Sept. 15-Sept. 19.

“There’s something about Poppy Mountain that can’t be explained in words alone. It’s like a feeling that surrounds you when you top the mountain and it stays with you as long as you’re there,” Pat said. From Boone County, Poppy Mountain is about a two and half hour drive to Morehead, KY but a drive that is well worth the time according to the Wheatley family.

Virgil and Pat are particularly excited about the festival this year because their son, Ray Wheatley of Chapmanville will be performing on the showcase stage all five days of the festival. Ray now 28 years old, started playing guitar when he was just 17. He and his dad went to Poppy the following year and a bluegrass band out of Missouri hired Ray to be their lead guitarist and lead singer.

Since then Ray has played with numerous bands and opened up for such greats as Dr. Ralph Stanley, Eric Church, The Lonesome River Band, Kentucky Headhunters, IIIrd Tyme Out, Marty Raybon & Full Circle, Blue Highway, Doyle Lawson, and Restless Heart. He now plays locally with his very own Country band, Branded X.

“It’s pretty exciting knowing that at Poppy this year, I’ll be playing on stage at the same place where Ricky Skaggs and Ralph Stanley will be playing. I grew up listening to those guys and never dreamed I would actually get to play music at a festival where they will be playing,” Ray said.

Ray says there are a lot of things that has kept him going to Poppy for the past 10 years. “I can 4-wheel ride, sing and pick my Martin Guitar with great musicians in jam sessions, play horseshoes and corn hole and most of all visit with people I’ve met at the festival through the years. There’s no place like Poppy Mountain. You don’t have to worry about paying bills and punching a time clock. You just go and have a good time,” Ray said.

“And I heard this year that some of the antique cars will be for sale at the bottom of the hill at the Lying Lee’s car lot.”

“It’s kind of like a family reunion. This year we have our son, both daughters and my grandson going with us. If my older son from Ohio could be there it really would be a family reunion. We’re all leaving at different times starting Sunday but by mid-week the whole family will be there. If anyone wants to start a family tradition, Poppy Mountain’s the way to go Pat said.”

For more information about Ray Wheatley and his Branded X band, go to www.myspace.com/brandedxlive or www.myspace.com/raywheatley. For more information about the festival, visit awww.poppymountainbluegrass.com.