Farm-City Days will end with a musical extravaganza this year with the performance of Nashville recording artist Dillon Carmichael.
The Oct. 17 concert is a departure from previous Farm-City Days shows in that it will be held at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, organizers noted.
Tickets will sell for $15, although sales have not yet begun.
Carmichael has burst onto the country music scene almost from the day he graduated from high school, from his 2018 debut album “Hell of an Angel.”
While the COVID-19 pandemic greatly disrupted his touring schedule in 2020, Carmichael has developed a faithful following via social media, with songs such as “Dancing Away With My Heart,” “I Do For You,” “Sawin’ Logs” and “Hot Beer” earning millions of plays via Apple Music and Spotify.
The country music duo Southerland, featuring the talents of South Carolina’s Matt Chase and Georgia’s Chris Rogers, will serve as the opening act.
THIS YEAR’S Farm-City Days celebration will not have a carnival, as organizers reported earlier this month, after being unable to secure a carnival company.
A nationwide labor shortage, exacerbated by a cutback in visas for foreign workers, has led to several carnivals struggling to stay afloat amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bulk of the activities, including a parade, will be held in downtown Iola on Oct. 16.
In a related matter, Elmore’s Ruritan Club president announced this week the 2021 Elsmore Rural Town Day celebration has been canceled.
Ruritan President Johnny Gillham said club members have grown concerned about the potential spread of the coronavirus in a county with a vaccination rate of under 50%.
“Our club does not want to hold an event that could further spread COVID, especially crowd activities held inside City Hall,” Gillham wrote in a statement posted on social media.
