Ozark Folk Center State Park to host Bluegrass and Fried Chicken Festival
The Bluegrass & Fried Chicken Festival is Aug. 6-7, at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View. The music festival will feature an extended show on Friday night, a Saturday matinee, and a Saturday evening extended show. The new event, which is sponsored by Stone Bank and the Arkansas Arts Council, features local, regional, and nationally touring bluegrass bands at Ozark Highlands Theater, the park’s 1,000-seat indoor music venue, and delicious Southern fried chicken at The Skillet Restaurant, also located on-site at the park.
Concert ticket holders will receive free admission to the Craft Village at the Ozark Folk Center on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Attractions include 20 artisan shops, the Heritage Herb Garden, live acoustic music, village programs, and craft demonstrations by artisans specializing in copper flame painting, blacksmithing, wood working, stained glass, broom making, pottery, wire-wrapped jewelry, candle making, and more.
Headliners during Bluegrass & Fried Chicken include The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys and Fast Track. These two bands are growing in popularity among a new generation of bluegrass fans. Both Fast Track and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys are scheduled to perform two sets during the
Friday and Saturday event.
The festival will also feature several youth bands from the “Folk Music Capital” of Mountain View, a town that has become known for producing some of Arkansas’s best bluegrass and old-time folk musicians. The lineup includes Sylamore Special, a young upand-coming group who won first place at the Youth in Bluegrass Contest in Branson, Missouri, after competing against bands from nine states Memorial Day weekend, and Ozark Legacy, a group featuring 16-year-old multi-state fiddle champion, Mary Parker, and 17year-old National Banjo Champion, Lillyanne McCool, who was nominated for Young Artist of the Year at the Arkansas Country Music Awards earlier this year.
Concert ticket may be purchased online in advance at $25 for Friday night and $35 for Saturday. Ticket prices the day of the shows at the box office are $30 for Friday night and $40 for Saturday. To reserve your general admission tickets for Bluegrass & Fried Chicken, visit OzarkFolkCenter.Ticketleap.com (Fried chicken buffet sold separately.) Note: We will be following Arkansas Dept. of Health COVID-19 guidelines to help ensure the safety of guests, so seating could be limited.
The Skillet Restaurant at Ozark Folk Center State Park will be serving its famous fried chicken throughout the festival on August 6-7 from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, as well as a breakfast buffet featuring chicken and waffles on Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. Special chicken items will also be available in the Ozark Highlands Theater concession stand.
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