Banjos are being tuned, fiddler’s are rosining up their bows and cloggers are shining up their tap shoes for the 6th Annual Lake Cumberland Bluegrass Festival August 21st and 22nd at KOA Campground in Russell Springs.

This year’s festival will feature local, regional and nationally touring bluegrass bands at a venue where folks can sit a spell on bench seats at the amphitheater, pull up a chair or pull in the travel trailer and stay awhile.

The music of 8 different bands will ring out over two days beginning at 6 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday from noon until 10 p.m.

The Dalton’s, a Bluegrass Gospel group from Somerset, will make their second appearance at the festival this year.

“We had a good time last year and we’re looking forward to coming back this year,” said Kim Dalton.

Local favorites, Cleo Spaw and Logan Station are scheduled to perform Friday at 6 p.m.

“We’ve played music here at Lake Cumberland Bluegrass Festival every year since the beginning,” said Cleo Spaw.

“This festival just gets bigger and better every year.”

Festival founder and promoter Clarissa “Moochie” Hart, estimates there were about 1,500 festival goers last year.

“We have people who travel to attend our festival from all over Kentucky, the US and even from Canada,” said Hart.

“Our hope is to welcome all those folks back this year and to add some new faces to the crowd as well.”

New to the festival this year is nationally touring band, Audie Blaylock and Redline from Gary, IN.

The band’s self titled debut release for Rural Rhythm records showcases their traditional bluegrass style and is steadily climbing the bluegrass charts.

Another new addition to the festival is the permanent covered stage with amphitheatre style seating and a concrete dance floor for cloggers to kick up their heels to the music.

“The main reason we built the stage is for the Bluegrass festival,” said James Flatt.

“The festival gets bigger every year.”

In the past, providing a temporary stage has proved challenging for the festival. Event organizers resorted to using farm trailers as an improvised stage last year.

“We’re very excited to have a venue that has understood our needs and has gone above and beyond to accommodate us,” said festival promoter Hart. “We cannot thank enough Dr. and Mrs. Charles Peck, James Flatt and the entire KOA staff for helping us all year long to make our festival a success.”

Work goes on year round to raise money to bring the two day concert to life.

“The festival committee works hard all year long to bring this festival to our community,” said Hart.

“We have 3 fundraisers per year with dinner and live music and that helps us to fund the festival.”

This year, there will be an admission charge of $5 per adult and children 12 years old and under will get in free.

Some concessions available during the festival are rib eye steak, pork tenderloin, hamburgers, hotdogs, funnel cakes, and ribbon fries.

“I want to invite everyone to come bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the weekend with us,” said Hart.

“I’m very thankful to the community for their continued support.”

For more information regarding the festival contact Moochie Hart at 270-566-1488.

For more on camping information call the KOA Campground at 270-866-5616.