The RustyRavin Ranch will be hosting its fifth annual music festival Friday and Saturday to fundraise for a transitional and sober living home in Kenai.
Ravin Swan, the co-owner of the ranch and one of the founders of the Nuk’it’un Home, said she always looks forward to the Rock’n the Ranch festival.
“It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “You get to see a lot of people you haven’t seen in awhile.”
Swan, along with other community members with loved ones affected by drug addiction, realized in 2015 that there was a lack of resources in the community for people who choose recovery. The volunteers decided to lease a home in Kenai in an effort to help men transitioning from correctional facilities and those who struggled with addiction.
“It was just a group of us, basically parents and sisters,” she said.
From there, the 501c3 Nuk’it’un sober home for men was born.
Swan said if tickets for the Rock’n the Ranch sell out this year, the festival will most likely raise around $7,000 to $8,000 for the home. Only 500 tickets are available, and she said they’re close to selling out.
Headlining on Friday will be Zero Mile to Empty at 5:30 p.m., Danger Money at 7 p.m., and Blackwater Railroad at 9 p.m.
On Saturday bands will play all day, starting with the Tune Weavers at noon, Ukulele Russ at 1:30 p.m. and Mario Carboni at 3 p.m. In the evening, Braided River will play at 5 p.m., followed by Woodrow at 7 p.m. and I like Robots at 9 p.m.
Festivalgoers are permitted to park and camp for free on the designated 6-acre lot at the ranch from Friday until Monday morning, and are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to watch the show. The RustyRavin Ranch is located at 35680 Baronof Street at Mile 12.5 on Kalifornsky Beach Road.
There will be food and craft vendors at the festival, as well as a beer garden for adults. One-day tickets are $25 and two-day tickets are $35. They are sold online at eventbrite.com and at Gamas Designs and the RustyRavin Plant Ranch.
The RustyRavin is still short on volunteers, who get free admission if they donate four hours of work. For more information about how to help put on the event, call the ranch at 907-283-5686.
Swan said she wants to encourage people to come out and have a good time.
“It’s all for a good cause,” she said.
Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.
Rock’n the Ranch spectators listen to live music at the festival in 2017. (Photo courtesy of Carlos Pereira Jr.)
