El Rancho Manana Campground To Host Bluegrass Festival

RICHMOND -- The 32nd annual Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival gets underway tomorrow at the El Rancho Manana Campground near Richmond.

The event has been nominated as "Event of the Year" three times by the International Bluegrass Music Association.

So, what is Bluegrass? Event spokesman Jed Malischke says is primarily acoustic instruments and is derived from a type of country music.  It was started by the so-called father of Bluegrass Bill Monroe.  Malischke says it is the 100-year anniversary of Monroe's birth this year making it a special festival.

The Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival features three-time female vocalist of the year Dale Ann Bradley, Audie Blaylock, Johnny Butten, Monroe Crossing and members of Bill Monroe's band the Bluegrass Boys.

The festival runs tomorrow through Sunday.

Tickets are available at the gate.