Great Escape: Raccoon Creek Bluegrass Festival Returns to Dallas This Weekend

Your teens are holding a car wash at the high school Saturday. The grandparents volunteered to take the younger children to a movie Sunday afternoon. Your tweens take tap on Wednesday evening. It’s your time. Take it.

Each week, we’ll tell you about great ideas to give you a much-deserved break and make your life a little easier—maybe a whole lot easier.

The popular Raccoon Creek Bluegrass Festival returns to Dallas on Friday and Saturday. In fact, the festival is held at the Raccoon Creek Music Park, 332 Music Park Path off Ga. 61.

From Dallas, take Ga. 61 north for 6.7 miles. Then turn left onto Braswell Mountain Road and continue for 1.6 miles. Turn right onto Tibbitts Road for 0.5 miles, and then turn right onto Music Park Path.

Entering its 37th year of operation, the music park promotes bluegrass and gospel music, according to owners Wendell and Rene' Hardy of Powder Springs. Another show is scheduled for Sept. 9 and 10.

Over the years, upgrades have included increased parking, restroom facilities, a playground and a limited number of camper hookups. (Reservations should be made for the camping sites. See the contact information at the end of this article.)

The concert area includes a large covered seating area. Concessions are available, including barbecue.

Rain or shine, this festival will feature The Grascals along with Barbwire Bluegrass, Bent Creek, East Dixie Boys, Flatline Bluegrass, Heartfelt, Ramblin' Grass and Wheelhoss.

Friday:

6:00 p.m. ~ Flatline Bluegrass

6:45 p.m. ~ Ramblin' Grass

7:30 p.m. ~ Barbwire Bluegrass

8:15 p.m. ~ Heartfelt Grass

9:00 p.m. ~ Wheelhoss

9:45 p.m. ~ East Dixie Boys

Saturday:

12:30 p.m. ~ Barbwire Bluegrass

1:15 p.m. ~ Bent Creek

2:00 p.m. ~ Ramblin' Grass

2:45 p.m. ~ Old Mill Road Band

3:30 p.m. ~ Heartfelt Grass

4:15 p.m. ~ East Dixie Boys

5:00 p.m. ~ Flatline Bluegrass

5:45 p.m. ~ The Grascals

6:45 p.m. ~ Bent Creek

7:30 p.m. ~ Barbwire Bluegrass

8:15 p.m. ~ Wheelhoss

9:00 p.m. ~ The Grascals

10:00 p.m. ~ Old Mill Road Band

The bands and schedule are subject to change without notice, state the Hardys on their website. Bands performing at the festival are not under contract, so each band is responsible for its own arrangement and selection of all materials used on stage. The Hardys say they are not liable for collecting royalty or purchasing license on copyrighted material for any organization.

Admission is:

$12 on Friday from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.,

$15 on Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and

$25 for both days.

Children 12 and under are free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate.

No smoking, no alcohol and no pets are allowed. 

For more information, visit www.raccooncreekmusic.com, email the Hardys at ibyforme@hotmail.com or call them at 770-943-2721.