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Tri-State Bluegrass Festivals
Noble County 4-H Fairgrounds
580 North Fair Street
Kendallville, Indiana 46755
The Midwest's largest parking lot pickin' events!
Nominated by the International Bluegrass Music Association as the world wide event of the year for 2008!

Memorial Day Weekend May 24-27, 2012
 Suzuki Fiddlers
Area Attractions; Band Flyer schedule
Campers can arrive starting May 17, 2012!
Showcase Bands -- starting 5p May 24, advance approval required

Labor Day Weekend August 30-31, Sept. 1-2, 2012
Area Attractions
Campers can arrive starting Aug. 23, 2012!
Showcase Bands -- starting 5p Augus 30, advance approval required

Labor Day Flyer with schedule

Notice: Indiana DNR forbids imported firewood because of the Ash Bore beetle.

Noble County Convention and Visitors Bureau Kendallville IN Chamber of Commerce Kendallville IN City

Thursday
Music
7PM - 10:05 PM
Showcase
stage is from 5-7p

Friday
Music
6:00 PM - 10:40 PM

Saturday
workshops AM
Music
11:15 AM - 10:40 PM
Sunday
Music
11 AM - 10:10 PM

4H Dinner 5-7:30 PM
Drive-ins, no charge to enter

$8

$15

$12

All times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time, same as New York City
Weekend tickets each: non-member $25 NIBGA member $23, includes Fri/Sa/Su camping
Children 15 and under free when accompanied by parent

What to bring to the festival.

Free wireless Internet provided by Ligtel Communications at the Merchants building

No Golf carts or motorized unlicensed vehicles allowed except certified handicap transportation.
All the festival policies are on the flyer.
Kendallville, IN Area Motel Information They fill up quick over our weekends!!! We recommend Best Western located within site of the grounds 260-347-5263 or the Holiday Inn Express about 1 mile to the east 260-343-0000. Ask for Bluegrass discount.

A news article about the Labor Day 2006 festival

Some of the Labor Day Festival Volunteers (double click for a detailed picture):

Labor Day 2002 volunteers pic

Photo by Kendallville News Sun; Dennis Nartker

Concessionaires contact Jeanette Young 260-710-3210 Click here for more Vendor information. We have returning food vendors.

All campers must have a weekend ticket. Camping is $10 per night prior to Friday. Campers are welcome starting the Thursday the week before. New, 132 electric outlets. limited water hookups. Electric is $5 per rig one time. Due to the nature of the electrical wiring A/C and electric heaters are not recommend or your neighbors will get mad when you blow a fuse. Generators only allowed in a single remote area. There are three buildings with hot showers. There is an RV dump station at no charge and the honey wagon is available for $10.
All tickets are sold at the gate. There are no advance tickets. Camping is on first come first served basis. No roping off or holding of campsites. If you want to camp with friends you should all arrive together. If you come early and drop your camper, you still need to pay a $10 per night camping fee for all days and buy a weekend ticket. The fairgrounds charges us for trailers even if they are unoccupied.
NIBGA has zero tolerance policy on drugs, drunks and loud canned music or electrical instruments. No alcoholic beverages or dogs in the stage area. All pets on a leash & poop scoops required!! Only those the handicap can have unlicensed, motorized vehicles. We have and do jail or eject without refund those who violate these rules. Security is provided by the Noble County Sheriff's reserve.
The Noble county 4H fairgrounds has 65 acres sand based soil with about 1/3 shaded by large old trees. Camping is a free-for-all style. There are no reserved spots. Labor Day weekend 2010, there were over 450 camping units and most had water and electric readily available. The most desirable camping is generally gone by Wednesday AM. Large rigs, over 26 feet, can be accommodated but they may be located further from the stage. Absolutely NO motor generators except in the designated location.
Quiet camping is south of the gate area, all night pickin' is north of the gate area. These are traditional locations. Jamming on the north side tends to be around the clock.
There are very few handicapped camping sites near the stage some with 15 amp service, first come first served. The board has golf carts and will be glad to drive someone to and from the stage area. Register at the membership table or flag down a cart. Sorry, no other golf carts or 4 wheelers allowed due to insurance requirements.
The stage area has three large covered shelters. The show is held rain or shine. Bring a low back lawn chair. There is riser seating not under the shelters. In the evening a sweater is often needed.
There are at least two food vendors (generally more) on the grounds. A sandwich booth run by the Avilla Lions Club will start serving breakfast on early in the week. On Thursday evening the Fair Corporation has a fund raising dinner in the $7-8 price range.
The grounds are sandy subsoil and water drains rapidly. Using some caution, getting stuck is not a problem.

Bands interested in playing at 2012 festivals should send a promo package by Dec. 1 including a demo tape/CD with at least two vocals and two instrumental songs, band bio and photo to:

NIBGA Festival
Joe Steiner
314 Frazer Street
Findlay, OH 45840-3643
(419) 422-0212

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Since May 8, 2008

Last updated Thursday, November 17, 2011 14:03
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