If you enjoy the high energy, fast-paced tempo of bluegrass music, you’ll want to “pick” this event for your weekend calendar. Some real practiced pros will be taking the stage at a rollickin’ good time, a pickin’ and a grinnin’.

By Peg Cameron Gill

It’s tough not to tap your toes to the infectious strains of bluegrass music. And there’ll be plenty of pickin’ and a grinnin’ at the 2023 Louisiana Bluegrass Pickers Festival on Saturday, May 13. 

Located on the Mississippi River in Louisiana, Mo., on historic Georgia Street, the Bluegrass Pickers Festival will kick off with shopping vendors lining the streets at 9 am. Browse tons of tempting items for sale from more than 75 vendors, including crafts, jewelry, herbal teas, decorative hats, windchimes, and more.

Sample snacks, meals, or beverages from a variety of food trucks, ready to cater to your cravings. How about a nice cup of fresh-squeezed lemonade?  

The kiddos can cuddle up to cute critters at the petting zoo, or bop and bounce in the bouncy house.  

Adults can ”arm” themselves for competitions throughout the day, such as arm wrestling and a cornhole tournament. Think you can bag a win? 

Daring decorators can vie for victory in the ugly cake contest, while fiddlers can compete and hope their bowing results in bowing in front of the crowd. (Or curtsying, if they prefer.) 

Those still hunting for something fun to do can try and seek success in a scavenger hunt. 

Of course, bands will be playing throughout the day and into the evening. This year, the festival’s second, there will be four bands–two performing bluegrass, one playing folk music, and a fourth performing Americana-style music. So if you’re big on banjo or bass, a fan of flaptop or fiddle, or mad about mandolin, you’ll be in harmonic heaven.

The vendors will close at 3:30 pm so attendees can set up lawn chairs and dance in the street.

You can even score a Louisiana Bluegrass Pickers Festival shirt for $20 each in adult sizes small to 4x. Preorder today and pay through Venmo @BluegrassPickersFestival to make sure you get one in the right size. Limited quantities will be available on the day of the fest.

The fest runs from 9 am to 8 pm. 

Sounds like a rollickin’ good time for everyone.

Interested in more Missouri bluegrass? Check out this Missouri Life article.

For hundreds more events, visit Missouri Life’s Event Calendar.