KENDALLVILLE – The 35th Annual Spring Tri-State Bluegrass Festival will be May 26-29 at the Noble County 4-H Fairgrounds in Kendallville. Sponsored by the not-for-profit volunteer organization Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association, this weekend is family entertainment. In addition to the stage shows, there is plenty of music around the camp fires, day and night, and pickers are welcome and encouraged to join in. There are three large covered areas at the stage and concession stands with a variety of food, novelties, compact discs and more. Limited bleacher seating is available, so lawn chairs (low-back only) are suggested. Limited parking for persons with disabilities is reserved near the stage area. A dozen national, regional and local bands, plus the area Suzuki Fiddlers, will perform more than 30 hours of high-energy acoustic music on an outdoor stage May 26-29. Other attractions are: May 26: 4-H fundraising dinner. May 27: For the price of a daily ticket, a full day of free, two-hour workshops in all the instruments (including song writing, harmony singing, beginners’ jam, dulcimer and old-time/bluegrass dancing; additionally there will be a four-hour intermediate to advanced level guitar workshop by Bull Harman for a $25 fee, register in advance, limited class size). May 28: a two-hour free Kids’ Kordner and another slow jam session. Performing Bands include: Avery County, North Carolina, May 28-29; Bull Harman & Bull’s Eye, Missouri, May 28-29; Echo Valley, Indiana, May 27-29; Foggy Hogtown Boys, Ontario, Canada, May 28-29; HillBenders, Missouri, May 27-28; Josh Slone & CoalTown, Kentucky, May 28-29; Kentucky Border, Ohio, May 26-27; Lonesome Traveler, Colorado, May 26, 27, 29; New County Grass, Mississippi, May 29; New Outlook, Ohio, May 26; Schlitz Creek, Michigan, May 27; and Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa, Maryland, May 28-29. Show times are 7 to 10 p.m. May 26; 6:45 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. May 27; 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. May 28; and 11 a.m. to 10:10 p.m. May 29.Weekend pass is $25. Camping is included; limited electric and water is $5 one-time extra, and camping prior to May 27 is $10 per night. Daily prices: May 26, free show, 4-H Club dinner at 5 p.m. for a donation; May 27, $8 per person; May 28, $15 per person; May 29, $12 per person. Children 15 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit the website at www.BluegrassUSA.net
