SD: Sturgis

WHERE: Elkview Campground, Pleasant Valley Road, I-90 Exit 37, 5 miles south of Sturgis. Note: Elkview Campground has excellent camping facilities, 100 full hookup and electric only sites as well as tent camping. Facilities include a large building with indoor stage for use in case of rain. The show goes on Rain or Shine. For camping reservations call 605-347-7620 or 1-877-478-5162.

WHEN: June 28, 29, 30, 2013.

TITLE: 33rd Annual Black Hills Bluegrass Festival

BRIEF ABOUT: The Special Consensus Bluegrass Band tours internationally and features Greg Cahill, a premier banjo player, along with a group of young energetic players. Their album, “Scratch Gravel Road” was nominated for Best Bluegrass Album Grammy in 2012. Mark Johnson and Emory Lester are both master musicians from Florida and Canada. Mark is the 2012 winner of the Steve Martin Banjo Award. They play Mark’s signature “Clawgrass” banjo music with mandolin and guitar.

     Copper Creek is a Minnesota based group, who play contemporary and traditional bluegrass and gospel music with vocal harmonies.

     Six Mile Road is a local band based in Spearfish and Rapid City, South Dakota that play arrangements of traditional, contemporary and original material.

     Bald Mountain Rounders from Chadron, Nebraska and Jami Lynn and Dylan James will also be featured.

     There will be workshops on Saturday Morning for both kids and adults as well as kids’ activities on Saturday afternoon, and a free Gospel Music Show on Sunday Morning.

     Other activities include an Arts and Crafts Show, vendors with a variety of crafts and jewelry, Spinning and Mountain Man demonstrations, including there will be Kettle Korn, festival t-shirts, performers CD’s as well as food and beverages available for purchase.

MORE DETAILS: Tickets? Call 605-348-1198 or see www.blackhillsbluegrass.com.

About: The Black Hills Bluegrass Festival started in 1980, finding a home at the Mystery Mountain Resort and Campground in 1995.  That same year, the festival inaugurated a natural amphitheater nestled among the pines, south of Rapid City, South Dakota, which is located just 16 miles from Mt. Rushmore National Monument.

     In 2010, the festival expanded its camping and festival facilities by relocating to the Elk View Campground in Sturgis, SD. Performers and patrons of this intimate festival in the hills regularly tell us it is one of their favorite festivals because of the friendly South Dakota people and beauty of the venue.

     Millions of visitors come to the Black Hills of South Dakota each year which offer everything you’d expect from a mountain vacation; five National Parks, scenic drives, waterfalls, abundant wildlife, acclaimed recreational trails, monumental pieces of art (Mr. Rushmore and Crazy Horse) as well as diverse cultural attractions including museums, art galleries, restaurants, music, theater and festivals.  www.visitrapidcity.com