Bluegrass and History Unite at New Salem Historic Site This Weekend
ILLINOIS — Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site is bringing together bluegrass music and 1830s history for its annual Traditional Music Festival and Bluegrass Concerts from September 5–7. The event, first launched in 1980, has grown into a seasonal highlight where history and live performance meet.
Traditional Sounds in a Historic Setting
Performers from across the Midwest will fill the historic village with authentic folk instruments, including dulcimers, fiddles, banjos, autoharps, concertinas, and guitars. Notably, no electric instruments are permitted, keeping the event true to its traditional roots.
History interpreters in period clothing will walk the grounds, demonstrating daily life in central Illinois during the 1830s, offering visitors both a concert and a living history experience.
Evening Bluegrass Concerts
Music fans can gather at the Kelso-Hollow outdoor amphitheater on Friday and Saturday evenings, September 5–6, for bluegrass concerts running from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Space is available for musical groups hoping to perform on stage, adding a community-driven element to the event. In case of rain, concerts will move indoors to the site’s visitor center auditorium.
Saturday Festival Events
Saturday offers a full day of activities with the Traditional Music Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Highlights include:
- Continuous live music throughout the village
- Performances by musicians from Illinois, the Midwest, and Texas
- Historical reenactments that showcase pioneer life and frontier culture
Sunday’s “Voices of the Village” Program
The weekend concludes Sunday, September 7, with “Voices of the Village” — a blend of music and history at the visitor center auditorium.
- 1 p.m. — Between the Strings and Me
- 1:45 p.m. — Mackville
- 2:40 p.m. — Historical discussion covering the Civilian Conservation Corps, the village’s reconstruction, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ 100-year anniversary.
Have you ever attended a festival where live music was paired with living history? Would you like to see more events in Illinois that combine both culture and tradition? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.