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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 27-30, 2010
Special Consensus, Town Mountain, Spinney Bros.
Monroe Crossing, Jerry Butler & Blu-Js, Westbound Rangers
Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, Chapel Hill
Echo Valley, Nobody's Darlin', Faces Made for Radio
Area Attractions Festival Flyer with schedule
Campers can arrive starting May 20!
Showcase Bands -- starting 5p May 27

Labor Day Weekend Sept. 2-5, 2010
Freight Hoppers, Tommy Webb, Palmer Divide, David Davis
Blue Railroad Train, Grass Street, Fade2Blue
Windy Mountain Boys, Runaway Freight
Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass,
Hurley Ridge canceled, Pickin' Up Speed
 Area Attractions Festival Flyer with schedule
Campers can arrive starting Aug. 26!
Showcase Bands -- starting 5p Sept. 2

Band Pictures

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

Parking changes Labor Day 2010 festival in Kendallville, IN

The fairgrounds has received a $20,000 grant to improve the horse track so they can run sulkies during the fair. They are restricting parking on the track due to the compression and potential dripping fluids from vehicles.

All parking will be in the infield or south of the fence on the north side of the south diamond. There is no parking on the track as in the past. There will be golf cart taxis to shuttle back and forth from the infield to the stage or log cabin.

They are allowing campers to drive on the track to park, unhitch and remove the vehicle from the track. About 6-8 campers are affected.

 

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

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. 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 are full up for food vendors as of 6/4/2010.

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. No A/C or electric heaters allowed.  Generators only allowed in a single remote area.  Three hot showers buildings. RV dump station 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 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 2007, 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. Due to the nature of the electrical wiring A/C and electric heaters are not recommend or you neighbors will get mad when you blow a fuse.
Quiet camping is south of the gate area, all night pickin' is north of the gate area. These are traditional locations. Jamming is allowed on the north side 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 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 2011 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 Saturday, July 17, 2010 15:13