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Labor Day Festival Resumes & Everything's Coming Up Bluegrass

Credit Courtesy/NIBGA
With more than 50 years of leadership between them, Jim Winger & Joe Steiner are gratified to see the genre continue to flourish in the 21st century.

The Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association's semi annual Festival in Kendallville is finally back on track this Labor Day weekend after a year and a half hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The four day celebration begins this Thursday  at the Noble County 4-H Fairground and welcomes both walk-in visitors and camping enthusiasts to its spacious grounds.

The group, which was formed in 1976 by a group of musicians from the Fort Wayne area who shared a passion for the genre and an affinity for homemade music, has hosted these festivals at the Fairground during Memorial and Labor Day weekends since 1990.

Credit Courtesy/NIBGA

The stage show, with its large and prestigious variety of bluegrass talent features eleven bands, twenty-one sets and nearly non-stop informal jamming in the side yard throughout the event. 

Among this year's headliner acts is Fort Wayne's own Debutants newgrass band.

For a look behind the scenes at the community of bluegrass enthusiasts that has grown along with the organization, WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with its top officers, Jim Winger and Joe Steiner, to discuss how this year's event is taking shape and where the organization, as well as the genre it promotes, is headed.

Event Information:
NIBGA Festival in Kendallville, Indiana
@ the Noble County Fairgrounds, 2021
Thursday, September 2nd through Sunday, September 5th

For more information and a complete listing of events visit the NIBGA website.
 

A Fort Wayne native, Julia is a radio host, graphic artist, and community volunteer, who has contributed to NIPR both on- and off-air for forty years. Besides being WBOI's arts & culture reporter, she currently co-produces and hosts Folktales and Meet the Music.
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