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Lewis Family headlines Mossy Oak Festival
10.14 The Lewis Family
The legendary Lewis Family is a pioneer and current-day icon of bluegrass/gospel music and has been entertaining audiences since 1951. They are among the headliners performing next week at Mossy Oak Music Park. - photo by Photo provided

If you’ve not yet attended one of the great bluegrass and gospel music festivals out at Mossy Oak Music Park in Guyton, then you’ll have a chance to do Oct. 17-21.

A record crowd is expected to attend the big five-day event.

Headlining the program are some of the biggest names touring on the bluegrass circuit Among the entertainers who will appear are: The Lewis Family (considered to be the first family of Bluegrass and Gospel Music, who will perform at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday), Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike, The Larry Gillis Band, The Carolina Sonshine Band, Vince Combs and Shade Tree Grass, and others. Effingham’s own Lonesome Whistle Band will host the festival and also will be performing.

Mossy Oak Music Park is a 34-acre park specifically designed for such special music presentations and similar events. It has a 600-seat pavilion and outdoor seating for an additional 800 surrounding the stage.

All you need do is bring a lawn chair and an appetite for some great bluegrass and gospel music. Follow the signs to the Old Louisville Road off Highway 119 two miles west of Guyton.

If you have a camping trailer or motor home then you probably know Mossy Oak has more than 500 sites with hookups and two dump stations to accommodate you.

The park also has a full kitchen, snack shack, playground, 1,000 square foot meeting house and museum, bath house, vendors, bathrooms at the stage, handicap parking and transportation, a bargain barn/flea market, and many other amenities to make your visit a pleasurable one.

Golf carts and bicycle are also welcome. Camping hookups (electricity and water) are $15 per night; rough camping is $5 per night.

So, if it’s great traditional acoustic music played by some of the best in bluegrass and gospel music live and on stage that you like, then Effingham’s own Mossy Oak Music Park in the place to be beginning on Wednesday through Sunday of next week.

A special covered dish supper at 6 p.m. on Wednesday is open to all and will kick off the big five-day festival. Open stage will follow the supper. Thursday’s program will run from 2-10 p.m., Friday from noon to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 8:30-10 a.m. A special gospel presentation will be featured on Sunday morning.

Full five-day festival tickets are $35; children ages 12-15 are half price; under age 12 are free. Daily tickets are $15.

For additional information contact Rebecca Rose at 772-5142 or Allen Lanier at 772-3467.

Visit the park on the Web at www.mossyoakmusicpark.com or drop by 533 Old Louisville Rd. in Guyton. Don’t forget the big citywide thrift sale in Guyton on Saturday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. held in conjunction with the Bluegrass Festival.