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Annual Bluegrass Festival raises money for Allegheny Highlands Trail

By TIM MACVEAN

The Inter-Mountain

MONTROS, W.Va.  — Award-winning West Virginia bluegrass musicians will converge on the area later this month to help raise money for the Allegheny Highlands Trail.

Johnny Cochran’s Bluegrass Band, Bobby Maynard and Breakdown, and Johnny Staats and the Delivery Boys will all take the stage on July 22 at Oak Grove Park in Montrose as part of the seventh annual Allegheny Highlands Trail Bluegrass Festival.

Johnny Staats and the Delivery Boys are set to take the stage at the Allegheny Highlands Trail Bluegrass Festival set Saturday in Montrose.
(Submitted photo)

“The quality of the music presented at the Allegheny Highlands Trail Bluegrass Festival is just outstanding. It is truly the best of West Virginia Bluegrass with award-winning performers in every group. If people have not seen Johnny Staats perform before, they are in for a real treat,” said Karen Carper, president of the Highlands Trail Foundation, the organization that maintains the Allegheny Highlands Trail. “He is absolutely a virtuoso on the mandolin. Members of his band are all top-notch musicians in their own right. I can’t say enough to recommend that people don’t miss this opportunity to experience their amazing talent.

“Bobby Maynard & Breakdown played last year. Several people asked us to bring him back again. I hope all of them come and bring their friends to share the good time and great bluegrass sound,” she continued. “We are so very fortunate to have talented musicians like Johnny Cochran right here in our own community. Highlands Trail Foundation is proud to welcome Johnny back for an encore performance at the bluegrass festival. He delivers exceptional style and a beautiful smooth sound that is the perfect fit for our little mountain town of Montrose.”

Music will be performed outdoors in the bandstand beginning at noon with Johnny Cochran’s Bluegrass Band. At 2 p.m., Bobby Maynard and his band will pick for the crowd.

Johnny Staats and The Delivery Boys will round out the day, performing two sets — one at 4 p.m. and one at 5 p.m. Joe “Danger” Gainer will serve as master of ceremonies for the event.

Seating in the pavilion is limited so concert-goers are urged to bring chairs.

“We recommend folks bring their own chairs or a blanket to sit on,” Carper said.

Food will also be available at the event, served in the Montrose Community Building by members of the Highlands Trail Foundation. A barbecue meal is included in the ticket price.

“The pulled pork barbecue meal is served by Highlands Trail Foundation volunteers at the Montrose Community Building adjacent to the park. Some people eat inside; others take food to the pavilion,” Carper said. “It’s cool and shady in the Oak Grove. The meal includes a pulled pork BBQ sandwich, fresh cole slaw, corn on the cob, baked beans, drink and desert.”

 The festival is open to all ages and Carper urges individuals attending to ride their bikes to the festival, utilizing the trail.

“The festival is family friendly event. There is a nice playground where children can play. We also suggest coming to the festival by bike,” Carper said. “It’s a very nice ride from Elkins or Parsons on the Allegheny Highlands Trail. We need to mention that no alcohol or dogs are permitted in the park.”

Proceeds from the event will go toward future community activities on the trail and assisting in maintaining it.

“Proceeds of the AHT Bluegrass Festival support activities such as trail outings and maintenance. The event also makes it possible for the HTF to have a part-time AmeriCorps member to assist with other events, and keep our website up to date,” Carper said. “One of the most popular events is the annual Blackwater Canyon Bike Ride, offered free to participants every year during Tucker County’s Leaf Peepers Festival.”

Carper said she believes the Highlands Trail Foundation to be a worthy cause because it has spent the last 20 years promoting a recreational trail system in the area.

“The organization has promoted recreational trail opportunities in the area since 1995. The mission is to develop a regional trail system in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia with the Allegheny Highlands Trail as the ‘backbone’ of the system,” Carper said. “We are still working on it and hope to celebrate completion of the Rail Trail Connector to the Elkins depot soon. We are so grateful to the Randolph County Development Authority for their work to complete this important trail link. HTF is a non-profit tax exempt organization. Contributions are welcome.”

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. Children under 12 years old are $5. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Joey’s Bike Shop, located at 19 Third St. in Elkins, or online at http://bit.ly/ahtbluegrass. Service fees will apply on online purchases.

Sponsors for the event include Papa John’s Pizza, Peter Pan Cleaners, St. George Medical Clinic, Inc., The Inter-Mountain, the city of Parsons, 94.7 WELK, the town of Montrose, Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, Davis Trust Company, F.L.Y. Market, Joey’s Bike Shop, 98.9 WDNE, Elkins Physical Therapy & Sports Injury Clinic, Randolph County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Hendricks Station, Elkins Inn and Suites, and MountainTop Realty & Rentals.

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