The Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation (WPRF) announces the 2nd Annual Hovander Homestead Bluegrass Festival, taking place over Labor Day weekend, September 1-3, 2017. The Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation, working in partnership with the Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Department and 5 Starr Jams, will host the multi-day bluegrass festival at beautiful Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale, WA. The Hovander House, iconic red barn, and ample wide open spaces provide the perfect setting for a live music festival. Majestic Mount Baker will provide a dramatic backdrop for the Festival’s main stage. Ticket sales for the 2017 Festival opened on March 3 and have already generated a lot of excitement for the festival in the regional Bluegrass community. Early Bird ticket pricing will be in effect until April 30 and features the best prices available to the public for weekend admission and camping passes. The 2017 Hovander Homestead Bluegrass Festival will feature an exciting line-up of Bluegrass artists on the main stage from 11am – 8pm on Saturday and Sunday including Edgar Loudermilk Band featuring Jeff Autry, Red Wine, Kathy Kallick Band, The Purple Hulls, Jim Hurst Trio, Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, and Circa Blue. The Festival’s Executive Committee is currently accepting applications from local bands to play on a secondary stage or in a special band showcase.The first Hovander Homestead Bluegrass Festival took place over Labor Day Weekend 2016 and was a great success, attracting around 1800 guests to the Festival throughout the weekend. The WPRF is now seeking corporate sponsors and private donors to help bring the 2017 Hovander Homestead Bluegrass Festival to life. There will be several mini-concerts throughout spring and summer of 2017 to help raise funds and awareness for the festival. The first concert will take place on Friday, April 28th in the beer garden at Boundary Bay. The HHBGF strives to bring the best of traditional and modern Bluegrass music to Whatcom County. “Bluegrass music has been called folk music with overdrive,” says WPRF President Daniel Tepper. “Bluegrass groups play a mix of traditional Bluegrass instruments – banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, bass, and dobro, that combine together to create an amped-up form of country music featuring tight harmonies and top-notch musicianship at an accelerated pace. If good Bluegrass music doesn’t have you jumping up to dance or at least tapping your toes, you many need to check for a pulse.” Proceeds from the Hovander Homestead Bluegrass Festival will benefit the Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation and the animal contact area at Hovander Homestead Park. The Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that promotes and encourages public and private support for parks, trails, and recreational opportunities throughout Whatcom County, its cities, and communities. For more information about the or the Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation, call (360) 389-3803 or visit www.wprfoundation.org. For information about the Hovander Homestead Bluegrass Festival, call (360) 474 – 7715 or info@hhbgf.org, or visit www.hhbgf.org and Hovander Homestead Bluegrass Festival Webpage for more details.
