Thursday, August 28 is the start of the Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association’s 32nd Annual Labor Day Festival.  Fourteen bands are scheduled to perform over 31 hours of bluegrass music throughout the weekend.  Music workshops are also included. Featured entertainers include:  Larry Stephenson, Bluegrass Brothers, Michael Cleveland, Wildfire, Valerie Smith, Detour, Midnight Ramblers, Southern Skye, Runaway Freight, Badly Bent, Pickin' Up Speed, Rick Prater, Spanky Moore and Stagecoach. You can park your RV right at the fairgrounds, but come early – some folks arrive up to a week early to claim their preferred spot!  Whether you are an avid bluegrass fan or just looking for a fun family outing, this is the place to be! Visit http://www.bluegrassusa.net/nibgas.htm for complete event details.

Who is Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association?

NIBGA was formed in 1976 by a group of musicians from the Fort Wayne area who liked to play and listen to bluegrass music. They formed a not for profit organization whose purpose is to educate the public to, and promote the awareness of, Bluegrass and Old Time Country Music. The clubs first outdoor festival was held in the fall of that year and has been held every Memorial and Labor Day weekend since with one or two exceptions.

Since 1990 NIBGA has held festivals on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Memorial and Labor Day weekends at the Noble County 4H fairgrounds (NCCFC) located in Kendallville, Indiana. This 65 acre facility has room for over 400 campers with 15 amp power and there is limited water. Over the years NIBGA has helped NCCFC upgrade the infrastructure. In 2003, NIBGA committed to $10,000 as a matching grant for better water and power. Again in 2007, NIBGA donated over $1,000 for electric and water improvement.

The goal that the board of directors has tried to achieve at these festivals is to provide high quality and a variety of entertainment in an atmosphere that encourages jamming. Based on the response of attendees, the board has succeeded. The stage show, with it's large variety of bluegrass talent, is well received with many compliments. The jamming is around the clock.

Using the profits from these festivals NIBGA has funding for scholarships for young musicians, for 50% of Traditional American Music programs in are schools using national bands like Special Consensus, for the IBMA in schools education program, for the International Bluegrass Museums future and for significantly improving the infrastructure at the Nobel County Fairgrounds in Kendallville, IN, our festival home.