The Iola Elks lodge is hosting a three-day music festival to bring a varied group of folk, blues, bluegrass, country and jazz performers.
The LeHigh Roots Festival runs Friday through Sunday at Elks Lake, just east of Gates Corporation at 1601 Montana Rd. (Elks Lake formerly was a rock quarry used by LeHigh Cement.)
The festival offers camping, impromptu musical entertainment as well as big names in a concert setting, with performers coming from across the Four-State region.
The festival includes two performance venues — a main stage and a jam stage.
Friday’s festivities kick off at dusk at the jam stage where many of the bands scheduled to perform Saturday will try new sounds. The stage is adjacent to the lake’s swimming area. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, bathing suit and floatation device.
The music hits high gear at noon Saturday on the jam stage as groups warm up for the big show that evening. The jam sessions end at 4 p.m., before the scene shifts to the old Elks trap shoot area, which has developed into a natural ampitheater, organizer Mike Jewell noted.
Among the groups slated to perform are The Bluetick Hounds, JrSOAPbox, Tyler Gregory, Hipbilly, 80 Proof Engine, Barstool Revial and Jacob Manfried Bigus. The concert is scheduled to run until 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
Still not enough?
Campfire jams and the jam stage will reopen at noon Sunday for anybody with strings — or a voice — left. A food vendor will be on site as well.
The LeHigh Roots Festival is the Elks premier fundraiser of the year, with proceeds supporting several community programs and donations. A three-day pass sells for $20. Tent camping costs $5 per tent; campers with electric service cost $10.
For more information, visit the LeHigh Roots Festival Facebook page, or call Jewell at 365-6166.
