The 33rd Coombs Bluegrass Festival is set to take place this weekend, with a variety of popular bluegrass bands coming from Oklahoma, Illinois, Calgary, Vancouver and Vancouver Island.
Music begins at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 29, at the Coombs Rodeo Grounds, and runs throughout the weekend until 10:30 Sunday night. There are a number of workshops that will also be held during the weekend, put on by members of Mark Phillips and IIIrd Generation and Special Consensus, both from the United States.
“We’re taking advantage of the fact that we have the real traditional bluegrass bands (coming),” said organizer Linda Thorburn.
There will also be a Slow Pitch workshop with local bluegrass veteran Colleen O’Brien and a clogging workshop by the Rainbow Stew Cloggers.
A number of vendors will be at the show this weekend selling food, souvenirs and crafts and raffle draws this year include cedar folding chairs, an Art and Lutherie Guitar and a bluegrass souvenir package.
A pancake breakfast will be available from 8 to 10 a.m. Sunday morning and an intermediate jam will be held Sunday evening with Vancouver band High Rise Lonesome.
Admission to the festival is $75 for the weekend, including camping, $65 for seniors and students and kids 12 and under are free. Day passes are also available.
For a schedule and details about the 10 bands playing at this year’s festival visit www.coombsbluegrass.com.