Staff Report

The 31st Annual Great American Brass Band Festival in downtown Danville starts Friday evening.

This free, family-friendly, and safely scaled-down festival will be held in Weisiger Park at the courthouse on West Main Street, and the surrounding downtown streets will be closed off.

On Saturday you can listen to world-class brass music performed by the Dublin Cornet Band, Storyville Stompers Brass Band, 202nd Army Band featuring a solo with Matt Hightower, St. Louis Brass Band, Advocate Brass Band, Five Lakes Silver Band, The Todd Hill Orchestra presented by Whitaker Bank, and the Baja Yetis.

Unfortunately, pianist Scott Kirby had to cancel his appearance due to a family medical emergency, however festival-veteran Dick Domek will help fill in his musical shoes on Saturday between Main Stage sets.

Concerts will be rain or shine, so please prepare accordingly. No tents are allowed due to location change, so bring umbrellas or raincoats in the event of rain. Performances will pause for storms, and then proceed when they dissipate.

Free parking is available in the city garage at Third and Walnut streets. There are also lots available at city hall, Fifth and Main streets, Second and Third Street Permit Lots, and Farmers Bank lot on Walnut between Third and Fourth streets. Street parking anywhere downtown is also free.

There are no shuttles from these lots as they are all within a block of the festival grounds.

There will be a hotel shuttle from hotels to the festival beginning at 11 a.m. from the following hotels: Comfort Suites, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Quality Inn, Red Roof Inn, and Super 8 Motel. Maps with times will be provided at each individual hotel and will be available at the Festival Market/Info Tent on Saturday.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Food vendors include Captain Frank’s Hot Dog Emporium, Go-Go Burger, Mr. Gyros, Chuckie’s Bar-B-Que, Kona Ice, Spotz Gelato, BCHS Band Funnel Cakes, Southern Style Kettle Corn, and desserts by Civil Air Patrol. Lemonade available from BG Concessions, and Pepsi products and draft beer will be available for purchase with all proceeds going towards the festival. Chrisman Mill Winery will be on-site as well.

Due to the location change this year, guests will also have the ability to dine and shop in the downtown restaurants and stores.

For more information on downtown businesses and their hours, please visit www.downtowndanville.com.

Although Kentucky is removing the mask mandate and going full capacity on Friday, June 11, festival organizers still recommend social distancing and/or masking if unvaccinated or for your comfort level. Hand washing and Cane & Clover sanitization stations will be available at the event.

GABBF masks will be available for purchase at the merchandise booth, as well as 2021 commemorative posters and pins. Pins and posters are also available to purchase at Maple Tree Gallery located at 225 W. Main Street.

From 12-4 p.m. (or until supplies run out), there will be a Kids Creation Station with activities and coloring items for children, sponsored by Women’s Care of the Commonwealth.

Weekend festivities kick off tonight (Friday) with the Gallery Hop at 5:30 p.m.; Sponsor reception at 6 p.m., the Great American Swing Dance at the Boyle County Public Library at 6:30, and a free concert by PowerPlay in Weisiger Park from 8-10 p.m.

Please note that due to the location change, the Brass Pass/Hospitality Room will be unavailable this year.

For the full schedule of events and performances go to www.gabbf.org.