September 28, 2022
SIU’s inaugural Little Grassy Get Down Festival Oct. 7-9 promises fun for all
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Little Grassy Get Down, a family friendly festival, is making its debut at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center Oct. 7-9. The event is filled with music, activities and fun for all ages.
The festival venue is Touch of Nature’s beautiful outdoor setting, about 8 miles south of Carbondale off Giant City Road, and promoter Bill Poss of Poss Music Works NFP, said the event is modeled after the much-loved Wander Down Music Festival, which made its last appearance at Touch of Nature in 2019. The new festival promises to be even bigger and better than Wander Down, according to Poss and Brian Croft, director of Touch of Nature.
Fun for all
The musical lineup features some of the most popular original acoustic Americana performers from the Midwest, including the Woodbox Gang, Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes, the Burney Sisters, One Way Traffic, Miles Over Mountains, Jenny Johnson and the Howdy Boys, The People V Hugh DeNeal, Taylor Steele and the Love Preachers, Carter and Connelly, Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin, Garrett Burris with Time to Kill, Jeremy Todd, High Test String Band, Loveseat, Dana Anderson, Bonfire James, Dana Anderson, Isaac Bivers in Burke, Ernie Hendrickson, Whistle Pigs, and Bill Poss for the kids.
There will also be guided mountain bike rides, paddling on the lake, pamper pole climbing, arts and crafts, Gruffalo story walks, yoga, rock wall climbing and a wide variety of fun activities for all ages.
“Admission is free for children ages 15 and younger, and we’ve created a retreat-style, family friendly event for everyone to enjoy,” Croft said. “People can come for the day or the weekend and find everything they need to have a great time. We also have reasonably priced options at the dining hall and bar. The Little Grassy Get Down Festival is a truly unique, fantastic opportunity for people to enjoy in Southern Illinois.”
Get tickets in advance or at the door
Various ticket packages and options are available, including some with lodging. Tickets are cheaper for the entire weekend, but a limited number of day passes are available.
Purchase tickets and find details about lodging and all of the various packages available, as well as the complete musical lineup and schedule, details about activities and more online. For information, email tonec@siu.edu or call 618-453-1121.