Bluegrass and Barbecue festival returns Saturday

Traditional sounds and smell of bluegrass music and barbecue smoke return to Saline Creek Pioneer Village and museum 11 a.m. Saturday.

The annual Bluegrass and Barbecue festival features vendors of food and crafts and sweet sounds on the stage.

"We hope to make it just as good as in the past, but we miss our founding board member John O'Dell," Chairwoman Lynn Murphy said.

"He retired in January of this year. He managed to get performers from the Grand Old Opry to perform in the past."

This year's performers are all from Illinois. Performers include the Rural Kings, Alto Pass; Worthing10s, Sparta; George Portz and his Friends of Bluegrass, Shiloh; and will close with the Pickin Chicks, New Athens.

Murphy said they will provide an open mike for volunteer musicians and expect to wrap up around 5 p.m.

Food vendors include Liberty Utilities, Rupert Johnson Barbecue, Sally Yates Funnel Cakes, Barb and Jim Cook's Burgers and any interested vendors who call 618-967-3439 before Saturday.

Former Harrisburg Mayor Eric Gregg will be the master of ceremonies.