What used to be an annual gathering of friends for fun and music has turned into a music festival as the event grew to a crowd of hundreds. This year the founders decided to help out the community by charging an admission fee.
The first band takes the stage at Shawnfest, a two-day variety music festival, at 6 p.m. Friday and the music continues at 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets, available at the gate, are $15 a day or $25 for a two-day pass. Proceeds from ticket and merchandise sales go to the Burke County American Red Cross.
The festival is at Catawba River Campground, 5399 Old Greenlee Road, Marion. Gates open at 5 p.m. There is a $5 camping charge. RV hookups are not available.
Festival co-founders Shawn Clark and Chris Singleton said the first Shawnfest was in 2003 and the music acts began in 2004.
“It started as just to get friends together and then we started incorporating live music acts and local music,” Clark said. “The year before last when we had it, it drew over 400 people.
“So we wanted to turn it into something good. We decided to donate the proceeds to charity.”
Clark said they hope the festival becomes an annual event.
In addition to live music, there will be plenty to do. Innova Disc Golf is setting up a 9-hole disc golf course and is hosting a tournament, Clark said. And inner tube rentals are available for the river.
The line up Friday includes Wicked Addictions, Borgotta, D Lam, Sworn by Sin, Black Demise, The Jupiter Tide and Spine Extraction.
Saturday’s line up includes Secret Alphabet, Pozzytron, Tron Solo, Dynamo, Tim Alimena, Plaztic Pony, Southern Triangle, The Jupiter Tide and Tater Family Traveling Circus.
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