Save the Date for Cartersville Bluegrass, Folk Festival

Cartersville Downtown Development Authority is pleased to announce plans for the Cartersville Bluegrass and Folk Festival, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19, in downtown Cartersville. Presented by Cohutta Fishing Co., the all-day festival will feature two stages of entertainment including bluegrass and folk music, as well as a kids’ area, complete with bounce house, and various games and activities. Held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the event is open to the public and free of charge.

“I am so excited about this event and the buzz that has already begun,” DDA Manager Tara Currier said in a release. “Recognizing a need to create new, enticing events for downtown, DDA board members conceived the idea and have really taken an active role in planning the event. DDA Promotions Chair Lara Jeanneret’s father is in Luther’s Mountain bluegrass band and he has been instrumental in lining up the entertainment for the day. In fact, all 14 slots were filled within a matter of a few weeks. It will be a great, family-friendly event, and one that will allow people to truly spend their entire day downtown. Between music and enjoying the kids’ area, it will be a great opportunity to dine at the restaurants, and meander through the variety of retail shops. I encourage folks to mark the date on their calendars! It should be a fun-filled, albeit jam-packed day in downtown Cartersville.”

Music begins at 11 a.m. on Oct. 19 on two stages—the Main Stage, which will be located in Friendship Plaza next to the train depot, and the Firehouse Stage, sponsored by J.B. Henderson Properties, which will be in the bay of the old fire station next to City Hall.  While the Main Stage will feature mostly bluegrass bands and musicians playing 45 minute sets, with a new band going on at the top of every hour until 6 PM, the Firehouse Stage will feature a mix of bluegrass and folk music, with a new group taking to the stage at the top of every hour until 4 PM.

In addition to some local groups such as Old Mill Road Band, Alias Smith and Owen and Luther’s Mountain, there are many regional and metro Atlanta bands slated to perform including Bullsboro, Cherokee Cutups and Grass Backardz to name just a few. 

Closing out the Main Stage at 6 p.m. will be East Dixie Boys, a 2013 nominee for Georgia Bluegrass Band of the Year for the Georgia Music Awards. Check out the complete lineup, as well as bios of all the bands, at www.cartersvillebluegrass.com. And be on the lookout for posters and other marketing material provided by Lara J Designs.

The Kids’ Corner, sponsored by Coosa Valley Credit Union, will be held in the parking lot next to the fountain in downtown Cartersville, and will feature a variety of activities and games for children to enjoy from noon to 5 p.m. Visit the website to download a coloring page for your child 12 or under, and bring to the Cartersville Bluegrass & Folk Festival to be entered in a drawing for a special prize.

If businesses or individuals are interested in getting involved with the event, sponsors and volunteers are greatly needed to ensure the success of the Cartersville Bluegrass and Folk Festival. Potential sponsors may view the various sponsorship levels on the website, or feel free to contact DDA Manager Tara Currier at 770-607-3576. Cartersville DDA is looking forward to bringing this new event to downtown, and hope others will share in that excitement.

Be sure to check the website, www.cartersvillebluegrass.com, often for updates and news on the Cartersville Bluegrass & Folk Festival, or call 770-607-3480.