The Lehigh Roots Festival this Friday and Saturday at Iola Elks Lake promises a good time, replete with food vendors, on-site swimming, camping, fishing and boating.
Admission is free, thanks to sponsors.
Organizer Christina Ramirez noted how the festival had its beginnings in 2013, when she and Mike Jewell pinpointed the need for a local musical event of its kind.
When the festival began, it was more focused on rock and heavier sounds, but Ramirez and others have been working in recent years to make festivities more small-scale and family-friendly.
The vibe of the event now is more relaxed, with a focus on bluegrass, blues, folk, country and other “roots” genres.
It’s music you want to listen to while, “laying out under the stars,” Ramirez said.
She also said that although the festival draws a lot of out-of-towners,” our hope this year is that more local people will come out.”
“Bring your wife. Bring your kids. Bring your dog!” Ramirez exclaimed.
“It’s a great thing and it’s for a great cause. … The money goes right back into the community,” referring to the Elks Club.
THE musical line-up is made possible by LRF Recording Company, and includes:
— Matt Korte
— Nate in the Evening
— Wade D. Brown
— Barstool Revival
— Groddy Riggins Band
— Huffy and the Night Train
— Terry Quiett Band
There will be both amplified and acoustic sets throughout the evening, as well as late night jams.
Custom designed t-shirts are available to commemorate the event, in honor of Darrell Chester.
Proceeds from the shirt sales will also go to help fund the event, including purchasing COVID-19 safety supplies such as hand sanitizer.
Note that although admission is free, there is a small fee for camping at the lake. All campsites with electrical hook-ups are already reserved.
A lot of outdoor space exists at Elks Lake to enable social distancing, but organizers encourage attendees to wear masks while waiting in line for food/merchandise and at other times where distancing might not be possible.
Gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday, with performances running from 6:30 p.m. to midnight.
On Saturday, the gates open at 4 p.m., with performances running from 5 p.m. to midnight.
