This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
07/26/2022 02:59 PMWhen St. John’s Episcopal Church in North Guilford marks its 275th anniversary August, they’ll be kicking off that celebration with their fourth annual Bluegrass Festival.
“We used to hold an old-fashioned chicken barbecue, but our membership grew older and cooking 350 chickens, serving food, preparing food, and cleaning up became a bit too much to coordinate, so we stopped doing that after 50 years five or six years ago,” said church member and event coordinator Karolyn Nicolaides.
When the barbecues stopped, however, Nicolaides said that people missed the camaraderie and meeting with old “Guilford-ites.”
“Folks said they missed that old-style New England picnic get-together,” Nicolaides explained.“There was a void when we stopped the chicken dinners, and I was thinking how we could keep the work load to a minimum but still entertain people and retain that sense of community. So, we tried the Bluegrass Festival, and it has been really popular.”
Now in its fourth year, this year’s Bluegrass Festival will feature performances by On the Trail, Grass Routes, and headline band Amber Anchor. The Church will also welcome Austin Scelzo, music educator and president of the Connecticut Bluegrass Association, to hold a ‘Pete Wernick Method Jam Instruction class’ prior to the start of the festival.
Additionally, for the first time ever, the event will have an open jam where paid guests can bring their own instruments and jam with other musicians during intermission. Experience is not necessary.
“This is really exciting because he is going to teach people how to use their instruments, and how to bring out the best bluegrass music. This is going to be special for our 275th. We’ll also have an open mic portion as well. So, we are really excited about that,” Nicolaides said. “It’s going to be extra special as we celebrate. We are going to open the church and let people take a tour. The whole congregation is really looking forward to it.”
According to Nicolaides, St. John’s dates back to 1747 when lumbermen from south Guilford would travel to the site and live in makeshift camps while cutting and dressing local timber for the church structure. Almost 300 years later, the structure is still standing and providing sanctuary for those who seek it.
“It’s a really special place, and some folks may not know there’s a whole other place up here in the hills,” Nicolaides said. “It’s very peaceful and folks here are proud to say they are from North Guilford. St. John’s is proud to be part of this.”
The 275th anniversary celebration and 4th annual Bluegrass Festival is on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 129 Ledge Hill Road, North Guilford. A rain date is set for Sunday, Aug. 28. The family-friendly event is $20 and children under 12 are free. The Pete Wernick Method Jam Instruction is from 2 to 4 p.m and is $30.
“We encourage everyone to bring their chairs, their food, and their instruments and to come out and have a great time and listen to some incredible local blue grass music,” Nicolaides said. “Bluegrass music and camaraderie is the goal, and enjoy each other’s company. ”
Hot dogs, soda, water, and roasted corn on the cob will be available for purchase. Guests can bring their own picnic and chairs.
For more information, visit stjohnsguilford.org or facebook.com/stjohnsguilfordct or email bluegrassfestival@yahoo.com.