On Saturday, October 4, 2014 the first annual DevouGrass Music and Arts festival will take place at Covington’s Devou Park Bandshell. The free event will run from noon until dusk and feature bluegrass music, regional artisan craft vendors and gourmet food trucks. The family-friendly fest will also include entertainment for kids of all ages and hands-on activities provided by Behringer Crawford Museum. All proceeds will be donated to Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky to benefit CHNK’s new chemical dependency treatment program. Donations for CHNK will be accepted at the event and can also be given directly on their website.
“Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky is in the midst of one of the most exciting chapters of its 132 year history,” shares Rick Wurth, CHNK’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our team is prepared to meet new community needs around adolescent behavioral health and youth addiction services precisely because of the type of help we are receiving from the community, including the DevouGrass project.”
DevouGrass founder Rebekah Gensler hopes the event will accomplish fundraising and more, “One of our goals is to increase awareness of different community-based programs and resources that CHNK offers to families,” says Gensler. “DevouGrass aims to create an environment where good things happen as a result of music and art bringing people together.”
DevouGrass’ inaugural lineup will include four locally celebrated bluegrass bands. The Cincinnati-based trio Blue Caboose will kick off the festivities at noon, followed by the city’s only all-female acoustic band, Ma Crow and the Lady Slippers at 3:00 and the award-winning “newgrass” up-and-comers Hickory Robot at 4:30. The raucous Downtown County Band will perform the final set at 6:00. Special performances by Joel the Singing Librarian and Circus Mojo are slated for 1:00 and 2:00.
The hand-picked selection of artisan craft vendors will be unique and diverse, ranging from photography to jewelry making and locally produced baked goods. Marty’s Waffles, Red Sesame and Dojo Gelato are a few of the scheduled food truck offerings.
Founded in 1882, Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky operates two campuses. CHNK carries out its mission to be a community leader providing children and families opportunity and hope for better lives by offering residential and community-based treatment programs for abused, neglected, and at-risk children. Last year, the Home impacted over 400 children and families in 33 counties across the Commonwealth.
