Fans wanted rock music, and Homochitto River Festival organizers listened.
This year’s festival, set for Oct. 22 in Meadville, will feature five rock and classic rock performances on the relocated and enlarged South Stage near the intersection of Walnut and South Second streets.
The Homochitto River Festival began in 2011 when the Homochitto Heritage Club partnered with the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce to host a yearly festival, and it’s been held nearly every year ever since.
Festival organizers have had many requests to add rock music to the lineup.
“We’ve had rock musicians back in 2012,” Meadville Mayor Lane Reed said. “But we haven’t done anything like this before.”
The all-day event will begin at 8:30 a.m and lasts through the evening until 8:30.
The entry fee is $10 and is free to children under 12. Tickets can be purchased on the website or by cash at the gate.
“It’s a festival of music,” Reed said. “From country, blues, pop, gospel, hip-hop, disco to rock. Whatever genre of music you enjoy, there’s something for you here at Homochitto Festival. And it’s not just music; we have games and entertainment for kids over on First Street.”
Bluegrass band The Gullyjumpers kick off the music at 8.30 a.m. on the West Stage.
Country music headliners Shenandoah and Little Texas will close the event, with Little Texas playing at 5 p.m and Shenandoah playing at 7, with multiple country and gospel acts in between.
Classic rock band The Bridge Band from Brook-haven will open the day’s rock ‘n’ roll performances on the West Stage at 8:30, followed by Pike County rockers Alibie at 9:45. The Bridge Band plays a second set on the East Stage at 2:15 p.m.
Tupelo’s own The Spunk Monkees will perform “feel-good” covers and party songs at 11:00, followed by Sullivan’s Hollow of Natchez plays at 1:30.
Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monsters of Memphis closes the event at 3 p.m.
All three stages are packed with music though out the day. On the East stage The Bridge Band starts at 2:15. Young Duncan band closes the stage at 3:30.
New to the festival this year is a car show at the courthouse parking lot, with cash prizes. The entry fee is $25 per each category, and vehicles may enter more than one category. The categories are classic, late model, custom and 4x4.
Awards will be given for crowd favorites and the overall grand champion.
“We had six signs up yesterday and continue to receive multiple a day. We are expecting a big crowd,” Reed said.
For more information and to sign up visit www.homochittoriverfestival.org/car-show-signup-page
The pet parade will take place at 9 a.m on the courthouse lawn with a trophy and small cash prize to be won. The entry fee is $10, and prizes will be given for best costume, cutes pet, owner look-alike, most unusual and best in show.
A kid’s area will be set up on First Street, and food will be available on Main and Walnut streets.
Reed is expecting close to 300 vendors and a huge turnout this year, with 200 having already signed up.
“We had over 10,000 people last year,” he said. “I expect this year will be even bigger. While we don’t have some of the events we had last year such as the cookoff, we have bigger and better things like The Car Show. We don’t want to spread ourselves thin and have a lot of things done mediocre; we want to have few things that are done right and of good quality.”
While parking is always an issue, Reed suggests arriving early at one of the four gates.
“We gave two gates in the south, one in the east and one in west,” he said. “We also provide shuttles and handicap parking spaces. Come early to guarantee a good spot.”
