Dakota Air to entertain for Medora's Cowboy Christmas

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The live variety program, Dakota Air: The Radio Show, will be performed as part of Medora’s 17th annual Old-Fashioned Cowboy Christmas. The performance is 8:15 p.m. Friday in the Medora Community Center.

The show is preceded by a wine-and-beer sampling social with hors d’oeuvres beginning at 7:15 p.m.

“If you’ve never been to a live performance of Dakota Air: The Radio Show, come and try it at the Cowboy Christmas — you’re guaranteed to like it,” executive producer Merrill Piepkorn said.

He reflected on previous experiences with Medora’s annual Christmas celebration.

The first time Piepkorn attended Medora’s Old Fashioned Cowboy Christmas, he sold the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame Commemorative Rifle.

“A few years later, Connie, now my wife, and I attended the celebration on one of our first dates,” he said. “This year I’m coming back with Dakota Air and The Radio Stars band to help Medora and North Dakota celebrate Christmas the old-fashioned cowboy way.”

Because the show is recorded for broadcast, folks across the wider region can get a taste of Medora’s annual celebration, he said.

Dakota Air follows an old-fashioned radio variety format featuring The Radio Stars band and original comedy by the professional acting company “The Dakota Airheads” under the direction of humorist and writer Steve Stark. Crowd favorite “Mr. History” will share some facts while composing a stage-sized illustration.

Guest stars for the Medora performance include two cowboy personalities — Sentinel Butte rancher, artist and entertainer Bill Lowman, and singer, songwriter and cowboy poet D.W. Grothe.

In addition, Keith Bear, a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes at New Town, will entertain as a storyteller and flutist.

“He has appeared all over the United States with his storytelling,” Piepkorn said. “He will tell a winter’s tale with music, reflecting on the season through Mandan and Hidatsa eyes.”

Dakota Air is presented by the Fargo production company, Prairie Airwaves. The live performance will be recorded for later broadcast on Prairie Public’s statewide radio network at 2 p.m. Saturdays. The Medora show may be heard at 89.9 FM on Dec. 15.

For more information about Dakota Air: The Radio Show, contact Piepkorn at 701-205-2665 or mpiepkorn

@gmail.com.

The tickets are $25 by reservation. Call 701-623-4910.

Tags: lifestyle, medora, local