WAYNESVILLE, NC – Tickets for the Saturday, October 29, 2022 Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival presented by the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) and Mast General Store featuring Balsam Range, Sister Sadie, and the Amanda Cook Band are on sale now. Balsam Ranges’ Tim Surrett notes, “That show was so good last year. It’s always fun to play a great, well run program so close to home. The lineup is stellar as well. Can’t wait!” Delux and Drink tickets, which are $105 includes one free alcoholic drink, free non-alcoholic drinks, priority parking, and a provided seat under the tent. General admission tickets, $55 will be lawn seats “which means you bring your own blanket or chair and find a spot to spend the day on” says Morgan Beryl, HCAC’s executive director. Children under the age of 12 get in free. Joining the team and leading the crowd as emcee will be radio show host Richard Beard, a founding member of WNCW.
The festival, which is HCAC’s annual fundraiser, builds on the success of last year’s event, which was the first Smoky Mountain Bluegrass Festival. “We learned a lot and asked attendees how we could improve,” says Beryl. “So this year we’ll have free refillable water stations, more artist demonstrations and instrument vendors, custom designed and locally created hats and other souvenirs and lots of drawing opportunities.” The festival also boasts a great food and drink line up, including Boojum serving beer and cider, Marked Tree Vineyard serving wine, and Blue Ridge Distillery serving tastings of their Defiant whiskey. “We’ve got the great food vendors from last year, including Appalachian Smoke BBQ and Angels Wood Stove Cookin’, and have also added some new folks, including Blunt Pretzels, Woof Street Bistro, and Sunburst Coffee among others” says Beryl. And since the festival is Halloween weekend, there will be halloween themed activities including pumpkin decorating, a costume contest, and face painting.
Most of all, HCAC made sure the bluegrass lineup was something that would take your breath away. Balsam Range and Sister Sadie are both 2021 International Bluegrass Music Association winners. Beyond internationally recognized bands, HCAC is also excited to add female voices to the stage. Sister Sadie notes “We’ve been in the studio recently and we have some new music we can’t wait for folks to hear!! Looking forward to some great music & fun in beautiful western North Carolina.” The Amanda Cook Band says, “We are looking forward to sharing a stage with our friends Balsam Range and Sister Sadie and bringing our fresh off the presses new album “Changes” to the audience in Maggie Valley.”
HCAC is also looking for volunteers to help on the day of the event. Beryl says “we need folks to help staff the event and do tasks like help check people in, sell drawing tickets, and manage the silent auction.” Volunteers get a free t-shirt and of course free entry. The festival would not be possible without strong partnerships and generous sponsors. Beryl says “HCAC is so lucky to have partners in our community who want to keep the Appalachian craft spirit alive, including Visit NC Smokies.com, Ward Plumbing, Heating and Air, Smoky Mountain News, The Print Haus, Boojum, and Marked Tree Vineyard.”
Tickets can be purchased and volunteers can sign up by visiting HCAC’s website, www.haywoodarts.org. All tickets sales are final.
Contact:
Morgan Beryl, Executive Director director@haywoodarts.org
https://www.haywoodarts.org/smoky-mountains-bluegrass-festival/
