TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The sounds of bluegrass, country and traditional music filled downtown Tahlequah Saturday as musicians from Oklahoma and beyond took the stage during the 46th annual Bluegrass & Chili Festival.
The two-day festival featured performances on multiple stages, with Saturday’s lineup including Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, East Nash Grass, Volume Five, The Goodwin Brothers, the U.S. Navy Band Country Current, Edgar Loudermilk Band, LandRun, Heartland Xpress and other performers. Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder headlined Friday night.
For some performers, returning to Tahlequah has become a tradition spanning decades.
Mike Bostic of Heartland Xpress said the band has played at 45 of the festival’s 46 events.
“We’re excited to be here … today,” Bostic said.
Bostic said the band appreciates the support from the community and the opportunity to perform alongside other bluegrass musicians. He said Heartland Xpress also values the festival’s combination of music and other activities, including the car show, chili dog race and arts and crafts.
“We’ve got great volunteers here that we couldn’t do this without,” Bostic said.
Bostic said the band works to maintain a high standard each time it performs, something he believes has helped keep Heartland Xpress on the festival lineup year after year.
The band’s connection to bluegrass is also personal. Bostic and his wife met through music, and bluegrass has always been part of their lives.
LandRun also has a long history with the festival. Audrey Schmidt has served on the festival’s committee since 2009 and has performed every year since. Schmidt said she enjoys both promoting bluegrass music and helping preserve a festival that has continued for 46 years. “There’s few festivals like this left in the state,” Schmidt said. “Being a small part of keeping this one running for 46 years is an honor and privilege, and we want to keep doing it as long as we can.”
Schmidt said music is a family tradition and that performing at the festival gives musicians an opportunity to share that tradition with the community.
“For us, music runs in our blood,” she said. “It’s what we do and what keeps us going.”
Scott Schmidt, also of LandRun, said the festival’s atmosphere is part of what makes the event enjoyable for performers.
“It’s such a fun time,” he said. “We love being here and the wonderful community atmosphere.”
Crystal Miller, of the Crystal Miller Band, said the heat did little to diminish the band’s enthusiasm for performing. “We’re excited,” Miller said. “A little hot but happy to be here. The crowd has been great.”
The music also attracted visitors from outside of Tahlequah.
Larry and Dale Pace traveled from Norman for the festival and brought classic cars to participate in the event. Larry Pace said the pair heard Ricky Skaggs and were looking forward to seeing Rhonda Vincent.
“The music is fantastic,” Larry said.
Dale Pace said the classic cars and live music made the trip worthwhile.
“We’ve got a lot of beautiful classic cars, and man, what a show!” he said. “The music has been so fun, and we are just delighted to be here.”
Dale and Juanita Underwood traveled from Yukon after discovering information about the festival while planning a vacation. Dale Underwood has played music for fun and decided to add the festival to the couple’s trip. Juanita Underwood said they enjoyed watching the performances throughout the day.
“It’s been really fun,” she said. “We’ve watched several shows and are enjoying every minute.”
The festival also drew visitors from outside of Oklahoma. Noah Sholes traveled from St. Louis, Missouri, specifically for the event. He said East Nash Grass was the band he most wanted to see and he enjoyed the Navy Band’s performance.
Sholes said it was his first visit to Oklahoma. He also spent time exploring the area and fishing in the Illinois River. “I grew up listening to everything my parents did and fell in love with bluegrass,” he said.
Nathan Reed, president and CEO of the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce, said the festival brought thousands of people downtown, giving visitors an opportunity to hear live music while supporting local businesses. “We hope people remember Tahlequah fondly and want them to come back and vacation and spend their money here and have a good time and support our community,” Reed said.