Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival set Sept. 11

August 29, 2011 at 8:31 a.m. | Updated August 29, 2011 at 8:31 a.m.

The award-winning Martin Family, famed Jefferson City bluegrass band started 10 years ago in Versailles, will headline entertainment Sept. 11 at the annual Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival on the lawn of the Fulton State Hospital in Fulton. In front is Dale Martin. Others, from left, are: Larita Martin, Elvin Martin, Janice Martin, and Jeana Martin Faris.
The award-winning Martin Family, famed Jefferson City bluegrass band started 10 years ago in Versailles, will headline entertainment Sept. 11 at the annual Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival on the lawn of the Fulton State Hospital in Fulton. In front is Dale Martin. Others, from left, are: Larita Martin, Elvin Martin, Janice Martin, and Jeana Martin Faris.

Central Missourians will gather in Fulton Sept. 11 to tap their toes to five bluegrass bands while savoring barbecue on the lawn of Fulton State Hospital.

The Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival, located on the sprawling hospital lawn at the end of East 5th Street in Fulton, will be from noon to 6 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon. Those attending are asked to bring their own lawn chairs or they can just relax on the grass.

The fifth annual event is sponsored by the Foundation for the Advancement of Fulton State Hospital, a Fulton-based citizen foundation.

"We have this event to help raise money to benefit Fulton State Hospital," said Charles Riley, foundation president.

Started in 2007, the Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival has grown in size of the audience and the number of bluegrass bands entertaining.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.