Old favorites perform on a new end of Goodells County Park.
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Jeffery Baron gets teary-eyed when he thinks about the BlueChiliGrass Festival.
The event started eight years ago with a couple hundred people in Baron’s backyard. One music association, Baron’s “adopted” children and a lot of community support later, the annual festival draws 2,000-2,500 people each year.
“You can tell I’m the proud grandpa here, ” Baron said. “Personally, I am overwhelmingly humbled, ” he added later.
Baron is the president of the Lake Bonisteel Music Association, which puts on the event.
The festival kicked off this afternoon with performances in the open jam tent from noon-3: 30 p.m.
Five bands playing rock and blues music graced the main stage from 3: 30-9: 30 p.m.
Visitors Julie McCoy and Nolan Walker, both of Port Huron, attended the event on Sunday. McCoy said she liked the music and venue.
“It brings old and young together, and it’s family-oriented, ” she said.
Bob Todd of Croswell has been coming to the festival for five years and enjoys the variety of music, and hearing The Tom Toms and Irish music. He also likes that it’s a small, safe venue.
Not many people were at the event when the first band started playing on Sunday, but Todd said it would fill up.
“The chili is a big deal, ” he said.
The Haberdasher, Sunday’s headlining band, played from 8: 30-9: 30 p.m. The group’s body of work revolves around an immortal character that the band made up called The Haberdasher. The Haberdasher visits different societies and time periods, giving the band unlimited options for musical style and story lines. Audience members will hear short stories about The Haberdasher between songs.
“It’s less about a concert and more about a performance, ” said Dan Peake, 29, guitarist, mandolinist, and banjo guitarist.
Robin Schweihofer, a member of the association and guitarist with The Haberdasher, said other artists have gotten involved with the group. For example, someone is writing fan fiction about The Haberdasher.
“That’s what we want to build on, ” he said.
The group said there is a strong, supportive community of artists in Port Huron.
Other band members include Steven Kautz on percussion, piano and cello and Ryan McInnis on bass guitar.
The Gasoline Gypsies will headline on Monday’s main stage from 5: 15-6: 15 p.m. The group was just awarded the Michigan State Fair Superstar Contest Grand Prize.
The festival will continue Monday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Musicians will perform from noon-7: 30 p.m. The main stage will feature musicians of many genres, while the second stage will host bluegrass and Celtic musicians. The children’s stage is new this year and will feature music by and for youth. Baron said it will incorporate an open-mic element.
“If any kid brings his guitar and wants to play, we’re going to make room for him, believe me, ” Baron said.
The chili cook-off will also take place Monday. Visitors can sample chili from eight Blue Water area restaurants for $2.
Baron said the association has two goals — to put on the best festival in town and to sponsor the Gary Sergeant Memorial Scholarship Fund. Two students were recipients of the scholarship last year and plan to perform on the children’s stage this year. Winners receive $360 toward music lessons and $200 toward an instrument. Applicants must do well in school and be economically disadvantaged.
The event is at Goodells County Park but is in a new location within the park this year. Festivities will take place on the north end by the special event barns and visitor center. In previous years, the event was hosted near the community center on the south end.
“I think we’re going to like it better, ” Baron said. Three barns are available in case of rain, and Baron said the event will be easier to manage in the new space.
There will be tents and chairs, but visitors are welcome to bring chairs, food and picnic blankets.
Admission is $5 on Sunday and $2 Monday. Children aged 12 and younger are free but must be accompanied by an adult. Pets are not allowed.
