EVANSTON — The weather on the official second day of summer was decidedly un-summer like, but folks still turned out for the annual Evanston Bluegrass Festival held on Saturday, June 22, in Depot Square. 

From noon to 10 p.m., six bands took the stage as audiences soaked up the music and intermittent sunshine, between periods of huddling under blankets. Adults, kids and even pets lounged on the lawn, danced and sampled the wares of multiple vendors set up for the event. 

Festival organizer Kathy Bella said, “Considering the weather, it was a great turnout. We had many dedicated bluegrass souls that braved the weather to listen to some wonderful music. I think we counted roughly 600-700 people.” 

Performers this year included Utah’s Red Desert Ramblers and several acts with Wyoming roots, including The Littlest Birds, The Two Tracks, Jalan Crossland and One Ton Pig. Sharon Martinson of The Littlest Birds told many a story during the band’s set and Ten Sleep’s Jalan Crossland’s primarily one-man show had folks up dancing and cheering loudly during his impressive — and often extremely funny — selections. 

Six-member One Ton Pig closed out the evening as the sun went down and audience members really bundled up, though the band did their best to warm things up with their energetic hard-to-define, genre-bending set. 

Bella, who has been the driving force of Bluegrass Evanston for the past nine years, said she will be stepping away next year, as Arts Inc. prepares to take over the festival. 

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Bluegrass Festival for the past nine years,” said Bella. “It’s pretty dear to my heart. We’ve contributed to our Ndatani school in Kenya and provided a travel scholarship for an Evanston student with funds raised from the festival. And I just loved the atmosphere and sense of community that was created by the festival. It was great working with all the various entities, groups and individuals to make this thing happen.” 

Arts Inc. Executive Director Carolee Bowen said the Evanston Bluegrass nonprofit organization will still be producing and presenting the 2020 festival with the assistance of the management of Arts Inc. By 2021, Arts. Inc. will be fully producing and presenting the festival. 

One big change next year will be the relocation of the festival from Depot Square to the Machine Shop. Bowen said this move is primarily due to the unreliable Evanston weather.

“We feel our performers and audience will be more comfortable inside, out of the hot sun during the day and out of the freezing cold after the sun goes down,” said Bowen. 

“The festival will continue with its great bluegrass bands, vendors and food, with the addition of several educational workshops,” she said. 

Bella said exact numbers aren’t yet available, but early estimates are that this year’s event raised about $4,000.