Silver Dollar City’s New Bluegrass & BBQ Festival Presents the Best of Roots Music and an All-American ‘House of BBQ’

Silver Dollar City’s Bluegrass & BBQ is an all-new festival that sizzles with the upbeat sounds of American bluegrass music, along with the aromas and flavors of a huge all-American barbecue. The new festival features the most talented artists of the popular roots music genre, from bluegrass legends to rising starts, as barbecue specialties from around the country are served up hot and spicy, from pit-style cooking on the Square to a feast at the House of BBQ. Bluegrass & BBQ debuts May 21 and runs daily through June 5 at the theme park near Branson, MO.

The festival serves up a musical feast with more than 430 performances over 16 days. Grand Ole Opry star and double Grammy winner Marty Stuart performs May 28, headlining a lineup of national touring bluegrass bands on stages throughout the park, continuing the park’s reputation of being “one of the most significant and vital presenters of live bluegrass music anywhere in the world,’ according to the International Bluegrass Music Association.

Visiting bands include Grammy nominee and 2004 Dove Award winner Blue Highway, ten-time SPBGMA “Entertaining Band of the Year” Rarely Hear, 1997 Dove Award winner The Issacs, 2003 SPBGMA International Band Champions the Randy Kohrs Band, as well as hot new artists such as NewFound Road.

Taking center stage for dining is the House of BBQ, an entire barn full of barbecue flavors, with grill styles from smoky Texas-style barbecue to sweet Kansas City favorites, Memphis dry rubs and Carolina vinegar-based sauces, served up home-style with roasted corn on the cob, potato salad, watermelon and fresh-squeezed lemonade. The barbecue banquet begins on the Square with demonstrations of pit-style cooking and hundreds of sauces to sample, compiled from around the country.

The combination of entertainment with the large number of performances, the food event and the park’s attractions is something no other bluegrass festival can offer, said D.A. Callaway, the Bluegrass & BBQ music coordinator. “Silver Dollar City began hosting bluegrass events in 1975, and we found that bluegrass harmonies, acoustic instruments and traditionalism make this type of music a favorite with our guests. Add America’s favorite food and we’ve got a great festival.”

Young bluegrass artists from around the country compete for honors and cash prizes as the park hosts the Youth in Bluegrass Band Contest, May 28-29.

Each evening, Silver Dollar City’s Echo Hollow Amphitheater features Classic Country Nights, with Jim Dandy and the Time Machine Band along with a cast of 10 talented singers and dancers performing the top country hits of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. A special guest bluegrass group from the day’s performances will perform in the show each night.

Silver Dollar City also features rides and attractions including PowderKeg, a new super launch roller coaster that launches riders from 0 to 53 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds, five festivals, a dozen restaurants and over 100 demonstrating craftsmen.

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