Boxcar Pinion Bluegrass Festival: Where music meets the mountains

Danny Paisley and Southern Grass are making their first appearance at the festival.

When the 28th annual Boxcar Pinion Bluegrass Festival opens Thursday, May 3, in its new location at Mountain Cove Farms in Chickamauga, Ga., there will be musical acts new to the stage as well as returning favorites.

"We've never had Danny Paisley here," says organizer Cindy Pinion. "Edgar Loudermilk and Jeff Autry have played with other bands, but not together at our festival. We've had Junior Sisk before, and he's coming back. And Monroe Crossing is always a favorite with people here."

The festival is held in memory of Boxcar Pinion, a bluegrass musician who lost his life to cancer in 1990. It is organized by his daughters, Cindy Pinion, Inez Pinion Castleberry and Ruth Pinion. A portion of the festival proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

Cindy Pinion is excited about the new location at scenic Mountain Cove Farms. Its Show Barn means weather won't affect any day's schedule. Although a new fall bluegrass event was held there last fall, this is the first Boxcar Pinion spring festival there in the festival's 28 years. The first 12 years were held at Camp Columbus, then at Raccoon Mountain Campground.

Homemade concessions will be sold on-site and guests may also bring their own picnic meals, Pinion says.

There is plenty of tent camping and campsites with and without electricity; but anyone needing a campsite with electricity or water hookups must call and reserve a space. All camping reservations require a three-day ticket and three-night minimum camping. To reserve a camping space: 706-820-2228.

No dogs will be allowed in the concert area, Pinion says, and this will be strictly enforced.