Carl Junction Bluegrass Festival
This is the poster child of festivals.
This thought came to my mind after being at the Carl Junction Bluegrass Festival for a mere ten minutes on a picture-perfect September afternoon.
This festival had it all: live music, a variety of food, arts and crafts vendors, community organization booths, a car show, and kids activities, all nestled in the shade provided by the sprawling limbs of the trees in beautiful Center Creek Park. Plus, the event organization was seamless, with volunteers directing traffic, driving shuttles, and providing information to attendees.
True, the organizers of the Carl Junction Bluegrass Festival have had a little time to refine the details of this event – like over 20 years – and the festival, which is held the fourth weekend of September every year, now brings more than 15,000 people to the southwest Missouri town of Carl Junction.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-overview.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=73056d40d0290a48a2d5de9014ef2638 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-overview.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=df4ab2760ca2e16f78efc0977b6a047b 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-overview.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=b30a9df04eea06ea5ed3a55efa72af56 600w)
Historically, this has been a Saturday-only event, but in 2018, two more days of activities were added to the festival. On Friday night, the Indoor Bluegrass Jamboree was held at Carl Junction’s Stark Auditorium, featuring three bluegrass bands. On Sunday, Pick’n & Picnic’n in the Park (I dare you to say that three times fast!) invited families to eat a picnic lunch in Center Creek Park while listening to the music of the Picker’s Post Band.
I visited the festival on Saturday, when it was held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Center Creek Park. I arrived in the early afternoon, and it was pretty crowded. But Center Creek Park is large, allowing ample room for both people and cars, and I didn’t have any trouble finding a parking space. Shuttles were available for those who parked in the free parking areas; there was also a $5 VIP parking option for those who wanted to park near the entrance. But even though I parked in the free parking area, I still didn’t have to walk far before I was immersed in the sights and sounds of the festival.
Music
Each year, the festival organizers invite visitors to bring their own lawn chairs to relax in while they listen to the stars of the festival: the bluegrass musicians. To me, bluegrass brings to mind banjos, fiddles, and mandolins, but have you ever really wondered where this music came from? Well, I did. So I did some research.
According to the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation, bluegrass has its roots in the songs about country life that were sung by those who migrated to America from Ireland, Scotland, and England and settled in rural areas in the Appalachian region. In the early part of the 20th century, the classic bluegrass style as we now know it was formed, blending country, jazz, Celtic, rock, and gospel music styles.
And now you know.
Well maybe you knew all of this before, but at least now I know.
Back to the Carl Junction Bluegrass Festival. The music began flowing from the stage at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, and there was a sea of people kicking back in their lawn chairs enjoying the lively music of bands like No Apparent Reason, Berry Wynn & The Fly by Night Band, and That Dalton Gang, who was playing when I took this photo.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-band.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=73a02878365f99995af679ba4788ce22 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-band.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=c29406399866f17e500411d8c3010287 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-band.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=26dcf18ac0d0a6e927cec4daddfc9238 600w)
Food
What makes listening to live music even better? Why, food, of course! The Carl Junction Bluegrass Festival had a wide array of dining options to choose from including:Ghetto Tacos, Clark’s Cuisine (barbecue), King’s Kettle Korn, and more.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-kona-ice.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=e9e2583711fa7e28d83b509261cd1fc8 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-kona-ice.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=a28ee8407a13b5e58962d383f4fbec4f 535w)
Kona Ice
Vendors
When I reached the last food truck, I discovered an additional area filled with arts and crafts tents and community organization information.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-vendors.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=ff292f4abcdadfb5937521b1754cf481 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-vendors.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=a38a4c04ed0de8c35baabd9369df96c9 444w)
Then I realized it led to another vendor area, and then another. This festival was bigger than I’d expected!
Here are some of the vendors that were at the festival:
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-plaid-anvil.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=43e9b271da77a56084895def402d3c34 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-plaid-anvil.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=3e715696435d3eddb679c66088a05278 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-plaid-anvil.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=fe6b9745dd294e1776227e9ae1eaf024 581w)
The Plaid Anvil (embellished/bleached plaids and leather goods)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-kimberlys-jellies.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=d6a97ef6603a9bd97559fa78ef8a6c79 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-kimberlys-jellies.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=40bae0d12182fe280cf94633ede6c3ef 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-kimberlys-jellies.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=f838c82be683fb81b951598b062241d8 600w)
Kimberly’s Jellies & Jams (a variety of jelly and jam flavors, including Mountain Dew and Coke, and avocado jalapeno, which I bought)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-bjs-creations.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=acf1668b1c6a869d1bd14b7d8701d8c1 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-bjs-creations.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=9fd00909cf988d824fe48c70c85a34bf 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-bjs-creations.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=ecf02574499a96dd05dd1ee2b53c657a 556w)
BJS Creations (jewelry, baby bibs)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-kimbriel-goods.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=bff9741a17e59a3d9ba3d5610d542603 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-kimbriel-goods.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=426ad79929d8007bf93c3f867be45e41 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-kimbriel-goods.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=0935a6407d9b724405c9d5a9703823f3 569w)
Kimbriel Custom Crafts (handmade pens, razors, and holiday ornaments)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-surplus-usa2.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=e0019839961a41a817825015ae058831 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-surplus-usa2.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=d70c2be2fca70f1734317d4e18a56cbf 469w)
Surplus USA (metal art)
Car and Bike Show
I continued to walk through park, the energetic notes of bluegrass carrying me along the way. I came to the Car and Bike Show area, where rows of vehicles from different eras gave glimpses into times gone by.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-car-show.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=5c4ee069b9797773b258c4dcdc6d99dd 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-car-show.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=4c41d7ce727135c920f34766c6d7991b 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-car-show.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=21417aa0f23694b5be2855276e427ad2 576w)
Judging for the show started at noon, and trophies were given out at 2 p.m.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-red-car.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=e6b25b2bd96b4b8f17467325429ee745 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-red-car.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=efbdc1ee0aa96647073c776b98afb6fb 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-red-car.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=d23eb506c04aaf0afd69d793339a3154 600w)
This beauty was one of my favorites.
Kids’ Activities
Even the little ones had an area dedicated to them at the Carl Junction Bluegrass Festival. Bounce houses, pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, and an art project kept them occupied.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-kids-area.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=c2017d643d75c93f7161a1beae104df6 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-kids-area.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=2983cdf81bfc053cc086268124b6b077 524w)
But if they needed a break from all of the stimulation, they just had to take a few steps to the quiet banks of Center Creek, where they could dip their toes in the sparkling water or search for wildlife.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-center-creek.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=40b4f3f598284043ca9cb5d2deb584ef 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-center-creek.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=163ea4eaa297bcf8a8b97847b5b3f9de 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/bluegrass-festival-center-creek.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=41077fd069afda3169a595b022b37b8e 600w)
With its idyllic setting, and family-friendly, alcohol-free environment, filled with music, food, and arts and crafts, it’s easy to see why the Carl Junction Bluegrass Festival attracts so many people to this neck of the woods each September.
To read more about my adventures in the area, visit JoplinMOLife.com.