WGDR’s 51st Birthday Weekend
Back in 1973, as the semester wrapped up (in early June), WGDR, Plainfield went on the air at 91.1 FM for the first time. Back in 2021 (in mid-May), 48 years later, the FCC approved ownership transition from Goddard College to Central Vermont Community Radio. To celebrate 50 years on the air for WGDR and three years of community ownership, we are coming together for a big weekend of celebrating as a community both on the air and in person at the station.
We’ll be live and local all weekend long with special programming during each show and a few extra surprises along the way. This includes:
Friday, May 17 the weekend kicks off with A Station Managers Retrospective on Magical Mystery Tour, 9-11am, hosted by Tonio & Charles. Featuring the founding Station Manager, Kirk Gardner from back in 1973, Stu Batuz from the 1990s, and the Managers from the last two decades, Bon Kelly, Greg Hooker, and Kris Gruen.
Three hours of Barndance Bluegrass! The Grassers will debut their new, extended three-hour show slot, now 6-9pm every Friday.
On Saturday, May 18 we’ll “Party at the Pratt!” 3-5pm. The community is invited to come on down to the station for a big party at the Pratt building (inside and outside). Folks will enjoy live, local bluegrass music by the Grassers, good food, good company, tours of the station, and learn all about how Central Vermont Community Radio is taking WGDR and WGDH forward for the next 50 years. We’ll have live “check-ins” from the party on the air during Boxful of Blues and Acoustic Harmony. Rain location is inside the station!
Boxful of Blues with host John Foster, featuring special party check-ins and guests celebrating WGDR.
Acoustic Harmony with Mark Michaelis, featuring special party check ins and co-hosts from WGDR’s past. More info soon.
7-10pm tune in for the “After Party” - a dance party mashup of WGDR/WGDH DJs trading sets for three hours live on the air. DJs TBD
Sunday, May 19 at 9-8am & 6-7pm - Special Shows, TBD
Birthday wrap-up on the Revel Level & Spiral Galaxy, 7-11pm Sunday night.
All our regularly scheduled shows throughout the weekend will bring you extra surprises and content all weekend long to celebrate this massive milestone for WGDR, Plainfield.
As part of this weekend, we’re looking to raise $2,500 as a “birthday gift” for WGDR to support the ongoing upgrades of a 51-year-old station! We’ve got matching donors and sponsors ready to match every dollar raised over the weekend up to $2,500. That means if we find 51 listeners that give a $51 birthday “gift” to the station, we’ll double that to raise about $5,100 for the birthday. Thank you to our matching donors: the CVCR Board and others coming soon!
Together, this birthday weekend will raise community connections and funds, and have fun for the station. We’re ready to party with you, tune in and come on down!
