Local Travel Features

Bringing Cadiz Together-Bluegrass Style

April 25, 2019 | Jamie Sears Rawlings

Bill Monroe, pioneer of the genre of music known as bluegrass, has a pretty high opinion of the craft.

“Bluegrass has brought more people together and made more friends than any music in the world,” Monroe said.

Betting on the truth of that sentiment, Cadiz-Trigg County Friends of Tourism are using bluegrass to bring their community and the region together in the Second Annual Bluegrass & Arts in the Park. The all-day festival will kick off at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 27 at the Cadiz City Park and will pick, pluck, stomp and sway for about 12 hours throughout the day.

In its inaugural event last year, the Bluegrass & Arts in the Park drew in a crowd of about 100 people, says Ann Curtsinger, chairperson of the Friends of Tourism volunteer group.

One of her co-planners, Ray Wyatt, is confident in year two.

“We had a very good attendance last year and I have no doubt that the attendance will be much better for the second festival,” he says.

Serving as the backbone of the festival are five bluegrass acts that are coming from all around with their unique takes on the musical style. Acts like Bluegrass Review will rotate with Back Roads Bluegrass and Classy & Grassy, capping off with a headlining performance by Jeff Parker and Company.

Many of the bands, according to Wyatt, are the same as last year’s festival, but several have new members in 2019, which means repeat festival attendees will be treated to a fresh take on their bluegrass favorites. The concert lineup is:

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM - Bluegrass Review
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM - Back Roads Bluegrass
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM - Classy & Grassy
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM - Bluegrass Revival
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM - Bluegrass Review
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM - Backroads Bluegrass
5:00 PM - 5:45 PM - Classy & Grassy
6:00 PM - 6:45 PM - Bluegrass Review
7:00 PM - Jeff Parker & Company

Fun bluegrass music is not all that attendees can expect, though, from the 2nd Annual Bluegrass & Arts in the Park—there are arts, of course. To that end, Curtsinger is expecting several local arts and craft vendors as well as several local non-profit booths providing giveaways and education about their organizations.

During the event, food will be available from various food trucks and pop-up food vendors offering hamburgers, hot dogs, fried fish and ice cream. Many of the downtown Cadiz restaurants and shops will be open throughout the day as well, providing ample opportunity to shop, eat and enjoy all that Cadiz has to offer during breaks in the music.

If you aren’t sure your kids will be interested in the bluegrass music, bring them anyway because they will be sure to have a good time in the kids area playing games, getting their face painted and maybe even engaging with local law enforcement in a fun water-gun competition.

For Bill Stevens, executive director of the Cadiz-Trigg County Tourist and Convention Commission, the Bluegrass & Arts in the Park event is an important way that the community comes together to help attract both locals and non-locals to the area.

"This event is a great example of our volunteer group working together with the City, County and Tourist Commission to bring an event to our area that features some local talent and great groups from other areas of the region,” he says.

“The best part is that it's free!”

“Food vendors will be here to keep you fed and different types of music will make you dance and sing along,” Stevens says.

Can’t attend this year—don’t worry! Curtsinger is already looking forward to 2020.

“We’re going to continue this event as long as we can,” she says, noting that it will always be held the last weekend in April.

Additional information about the event can be found on the Facebook event page. Seating for the concert will be available, but lawn chairs and blankets are also encouraged for optimal seating choices. Parking is free at the city park and restroom facilities are available.

Visit Cadiz-Trigg County Tourist and Convention Commission online for information about more fun events in the area.

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