People came out in droves to enjoy a summer night spent with good drink, good food and good company for the Appalachian Roots Festival in Downtown Blairsville on Saturday, July 5.
A first of its kind, the event was a collaboration between Grandaddy Mimm’s Distilling Co., the Blairsville Downtown Development Authority and the Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce.
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The fun started at 2 p.m. with the moonshine passport, which required of-age visitors to stop by the DDA tent just outside Grandaddy Mimm’s to sign up. From there, participants could visit various Downtown Blairsville merchants and pick up samples of moonshine.
Everyone who signed up for the passport entered to win $100 to a downtown business of their choice and a Grandaddy Mimm’s gift basket worth $250. In all, there were over 100 participants throughout the day.
At 6 p.m., the next phase of the event started with a low country boil by Jim’s Smokin’ Que. The flavorful Southern favorite commonly includes seafood like shrimp, crab or lobster along with potatoes, corn and sausage. Anyone who wanted a meal did have to purchase tickets beforehand.
The concert gates out front of the distillery opened around the same time, giving guests a chance to set up lawn chairs in the gravel and along the culvert. The concert was free to the public, and the atmosphere was that of an energetic outdoor music festival.
Blankets and chairs dotted the lot directly beside the stage located out back of Grandaddy Mimm’s, where individuals, couples and families with children of varying ages enjoyed a clear summer day before the sun sank and allowed a reprieve from the heat.
Further up the hill, some corn hole sets provided great entertainment before the music started, and a marked tent was set up for cigar smoking.
Closer to the stage was a hydration station with free water, and on the other side sat tents that offered up some options for the shindig’s drink choices. Of course, Grandaddy Mimm’s continued to serve moonshine and cocktails, but the Overflow Coffee Co. was also in attendance with non-alcoholic beverage options.
Giggles and Grins Caricatures was also present, providing free portraits to anyone who took a seat in front of artist Jim Humphrey before 10 p.m. He and his wife Juanita struck up conversations with their subjects as Humphrey filled pages with the likenesses of families and expressive solo muses.
Before the concert began, organizers took a moment to greet guests and thank them for coming. In light of recent tragedies both on local and national scales, Seasons Inn Owner Colleen Urbaniuk said a prayer calling for strength and unity in dark times and healing going forward.
Cody King kicked off the musical portion of the event, serving as the opening act at 7 p.m. With a focus on country and rock, King showed off his skills as a vocalist and guitar player, pumping up the crowd and drawing forth powerful emotions in equal measure.
Headliner Kanstyx took to the stage at 8:30 p.m. As a cover band of classic rock giants Kansas and Styx, the portmanteau performers featured heavily in advertisements leading up to the big day and served as the “main event.”
Inspiring a heavy dose of nostalgia while breathing new life into old favorites such as “Carry on Wayward Son” and “Come Sail Away,” Kanstyx earned cheers and wild applause from more than just the front-row seats. Several people even got up to the dance or join the musicians with their handy air guitars if they weren’t already singing along.
Joe and Shannon Ionata are loyal fans of Grandaddy Mimm’s, having visited “many times.” Shannon in particular said that the draw comes from the friendly atmosphere and kind staff, and though Tommy Townsend wasn’t part of the lineup, the Appalachian Roots Festival did not disappoint.
“I love that it’s a free event,” said Ionata, who was just happy to have a chance to enjoy a fun evening with family and friends. Further, she was touched by Urbaniuk’s prayer, finding a source of pride in the fact that her community comes together to care for others.
Blairsville DDA Director Kristen Bentley shared that there was a possibility of the event returning next year, especially since the reception was so positive.
“It was just designed to be a fun evening in Downtown Blairsville,” Bentley explained, adding that she would send out surveys to get more public feedback. “We’re going to do something like that probably every year … I think it went well.”
