ARCADIA – “Mr. Sam’s First Annual Round Barn Dance and Fundraiser,” scheduled for Saturday, May 25, will honor longtime Arcadia Round Barn volunteer and board president emeritus Sam Gilaspy.

Gilaspy, who for many years led tours every Monday and was known at the Round Barn as “Mr. Sam,” loved inviting visitors to two-step with him in the loft. Gilaspy retired from his Monday shifts when the COVID pandemic hit but has remained an enthusiastic supporter of the Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society, which owns and manages the Round Barn and other historical properties in Arcadia.

Music for the dance will be provided by The McKedy Band, a traditional country music band comprised of Bryon McKedy and his daughter and son, Mackynsie and Austin, along with bandmates Terry Dobbs, Jason Baird, Paul Guinn and Sienna Rose. The McKedy siblings are scheduled to open for Diamond Rio during Diamond Rio’s July 10 concert at Sugar Creek Casino in Hinton.

Doors to the loft will open at 5:45 p.m. for the 6 to 9 p.m. dance. A light dinner and refreshments will be served at 6 p.m., and the music will start at 7 p.m.

Admission is free, but a $10 donation per person is suggested. A door prize ticket will be issued to donors.

The event will hearken back to the early days of the barn, when dances were held in the loft shortly after the barn was built in 1898 and continued on and off for several decades.

“Through the years we’ve had a few requests to hold a dance in the loft,” said singer-songwriter Joe Baxter, who coordinates the live music at the Round Barn. “Thanks to the McKedys, who have been sharing their musical gifts at the Round Barn for several years now, the time is right to hold a dance and to honor Mr. Sam.”

For more information about music at the barn including the dance, call Baxter at 405-833-1350.

Sam Gillaspy checks out one of the cars during a visit to the barn made by members of a Corvette club.  Many classic cars stop at the Arcadia Round Barn every year during Route 66 cruises. (Photo provided by Arcadia Round Barn)

Members of the McKedy band, back row from left, Paul Guinn, drums, Jason Baird, keyboard, Austin McKedy, guitar and vocals, Bryon McKedy, steel guitar and vocals and Terry Dobbs, bass guitar. Front row, Sienna Rose, fiddle and vocals and Mackynsie McKedy, fiddle and vocals. (Photo provided by The McKedy Band)