The Town of Griffith is adding another festival to this year’s line-up and this time they’re going country.
Griffith will host Country Music Weekend, Friday and Saturday at Central Park, 600 N. Broad St. Two evenings of country music performances will be featured along with several local barbeque vendors and beer and wine sales.
Fridays are usually reserved for Central Market events. Friday’s line-up features original country by Terry Lee Goffee at 5:30 p.m. and he will take the stage again at 7 p.m. to lead the Johnny Cash Tribune. Hank Ruff headlines the 9 p.m. show.
Saturday’s music starts with an acoustic performance by Ashly at 4:30 p.m., the modern country of Steel County at 5:30 p.m., Nashville recording artist and Northwest Indiana native Jonny James at 7:30 p.m., and The Ultimate Garth Brooks Tribune, featuring Shawn Gerhard, at 9:30 p.m.
Admission is free, with a fireworks show held at dusk on Saturday.
Griffith’s festivals cover a wide swath of musical genres, running the four-day Rock ‘n Rail Fest, Broad Street Blues & BBQ Fest, Oktoberfest, and a variety of performers at Central Market Fridays, May through September. Classical music comes to Central Park on Aug. 3 with a performance by the Northwest Indiana Symphony.
Town Council President Rick Ryfa, R-3rd, who helms Griffith’s festival planning and operations, with assistance from town staff and volunteers, said that Country Music Weekend offers a strong music lineup, and an array of food vendors.
“For many years a lot of people have asked that the town do an event featuring country music,” he said. “Friday and Saturday will offer a nice selection of modern country, some original music and two traditional tribute artists.”
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
