Annual
Fort Kaskaskia
Traditional Music Festival
Ellis Grove, Illinois

Saturday and Sunday
September 27 -September 28, 2008
11 am - 6 pm
 both days
Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site
Parking Fee - $10 per vehicle

Every September thousands of music lovers converge on Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site for the annual Traditional Music Festival. Nationally and regionally known musicians treat the crowd to Bluegrass, Cajun, Irish, and Country music as well as other entertainment such as traditional dances. A craft show is held on both days with plenty of interesting items for sale, and there is no shortage of food and refreshments. If you would like to spend one of the last weekends of summer enjoying good music in a scenic setting on top of the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River then the Fort Kaskaskia Traditional Music Festival is a sure fire bet for a great afternoon outing.

2008 FEATURED PERFORMERS
George Portz
National "Open" Fiddle Champion
& his "Friends of Bluegrass" Band
  Dennis Stroughmatt Et L'esprit
Creole Traditional Cajun Music
(Sunday)
Gearoid O'Hallmhurain
All-Ireland Concertina Champion
(Sunday)
  Phillip Steinmetz & Sunny Tennesseans
National Banjo Champion
Grandpa Jones Great Nephew
Zane Prosser
Award Winning Country Vocalist
  Matt McElroy
Junior Harmonics Sensation (Saturday)
Wailin Wood
National Harmonica Champion
Nashville, Tennessee
  Cadence Cloggers
Champion Clogging Team
(Sunday)
The Gordons
Appalachian Bluegrass (Saturday)
Liesl Schoenberger
Fiddle Champion
Nancy Meadows
Bagpiper (Sunday)
  Men of the Week
Missouri Bluegrass (Saturday)
Will Maring
S. Illinois Bluegrass Vocalist (Sunday)
  Mulhearn Family
First Family of Fiddlers (Saturday)
RavenMoon
Bluegrass Band (Sunday)
  Marissa Harms
Traditional Country
Gospel Sing
Sunday 11 am
  Heather Stortz
10-year old Junior Fiddler (Saturday)
Thunder & Lightning Cloggers
Champion Clogging Team, Columbia, Illinois
(Saturday)
Remember to bring your own lawn chairs or blankets for seating!
CRAFT SHOW
Both Days!
Food and Refreshments available on the grounds
"The food's so good, your tongue'll reach up and slap your eyeballs out."
~ George Portz
Master of Ceremonies
Paul Brake
George Portz
Music Coordinator
George Portz
105 High Street
O’Fallon, IL 62269
618-632-1384
 


Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site is located 6 miles north of Chester, IL. Take IL-3 to just south of Ellis Grove and turn west on Fort Kaskaskia Road. 

The Festival is sponsored by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and the revenues generated from parking donations help defray the costs associated with the Festival.

For more information call 618-859-3741 or 618-859-3031 or email: menrdhom@midwest.net.

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FEATURED ATTRACTIONS ALONG THE GREAT RIVER ROAD
Fort Kaskaskia
State Historic Site
Ste. Genevieve
Missouri
Mary's River
Covered Bridge
Pickle Springs
Natural Area