14th ANNUAL TRADITIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 20 AND 21 AT FORT KASKASKIA

ELLIS GROVE, IL -- Music lovers of all ages are invited to the 14^th Annual Traditional Music Festival, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, September 20 and 21, at Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site.  The event is free and open to the public.

            The event will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.  A large variety of food and soft drinks will be available, and Country Crafters will be exhibiting on the grounds.  Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. 

            The Traditional Music Festival will feature Bluegrass, Cajun, Country, Gospel and Irish music as well as Irish dance and country-style clogging.  National "Open" Fiddle Champion George Portz, who serves as music director for the festival, will perform.  He will be joined by the Mississippi Mudpies, Junior Fiddle Champion Liesl Schoenberger, Raven Moon Bluegrass Band, The Thunder & Lightning Cloggers, Dennis Stroughmatt, Brenda Cook, the Reitz Family, award-winning country vocalist Zane Prosser, All-Ireland Concertina Champion Gearold O'Hallmuhurain, and many others.

            The Traditional Music Festival is sponsored by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, which administers Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site.  The site marks the location of an early 1700s French fort with a spectacular view of the Mississippi River.  It is located on Fort Kaskaskia Road, six miles north of Chester, Illinois, just off state Route 3.  Signs will direct visitors to the event.  For more information, call (618) 859-3741 or (618) 859-3031. 

Illinois Historic Preservation Agency