The board of directors and staff of Danville’s premier event, The Great American Brass Band Festival, are pleased to announce the 32nd annual festival will take place again this June 2-5, 2022. Downtown Danville and the Great Lawn at Centre College will be the backdrop for this cherished event, along with various other locations around Danville and Mercer County.

Many fan-favorite events such as the Main Stage Music, Whitaker Bank’s Bayou and Brass, and the Great American Picnic, will return after a hiatus due to COVID-19. The weekend will kick off on Thursday, June 2, with the Downtown Gallery Hop hosted by the Arts Commission of Danville/Boyle County, and the Great American Swing Dance at the Boyle County Public Library. On Friday, June 3rd, the festival is partnering with the Art Center of the Bluegrass to present a ‘Lunch and Learn’ featuring the Storyville Stompers. The Stompers will also perform a gospel concert later in the afternoon. For our friends in Mercer County, Shaker Village will also host an afternoon concert at 4:30 pm that day. To end the evening, Whitaker Bank’s Bayou and Brass will kick off in Weisiger Park (Courthouse) at 5 pm, featuring a New Orleans-inspired street party with festive music, food, and fun for all ages.

On Saturday, June 4th, wake up early and take part in the ‘Run, Ride, and Relax Series’ with the Run for the Brass 5k or Yoga in the Park. At 11 am, bring the family out to enjoy the Main Street Parade. Main Stage music, the Food Village, and the Festival Market will begin at noon at the Great Lawn at Centre College. The Great American Picnic setup will begin at 5 pm, with the evening’s lineup of music going strong until 11 pm.

On Sunday, June 5th, complete the ‘Run, Ride and Relax Series’ with a Bike Ride with the Wheelmen, or worship during our Community Ecumenical Service on the Main Stage. Following the service, music will continue on the Main Stage until the Festival concludes at 4 pm.

Returning on Saturday this year is the kid-favorite Wagon and Wheels Parade, sponsored by Little Paws Music Studio. Picnic table order forms, Run for the Brass 5K, and Wagons and Wheels applications will be available on the GABBF website in the spring.

“We are so happy to announce the events planned for our 2022 Festival,” GABBF Executive Director, Missy Angolia said. “It has been a rough few years for the Festival with the pandemic, but we have had wonderful support from our community and have been able to weather the storm. We are going to work our hardest to present an event that resembles pre-COVID festivals, but will continue to monitor the situation as always.”

“We also have a few other events in the works, but details are still being ironed out, so stay tuned to our website or social media for those additions,” Angolia noted. “Sadly, due to several uncontrollable factors, some events such as the Balloon Race, are unable to take place this year, but we are hopeful for their return in 2023.”

The Great American Brass Band Festival is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 1990. For more information, or sponsorship and donation opportunities, visit www.gabbf.org.

2022 Schedule of Festival Events
Thursday, June 2, 2022
5:30-8 pm Downtown Gallery Hop
7:30-9 pm Great American Swing Dance

Friday, June 3, 2022
12 pm- Lunch and Learn featuring Storyville Stompers
4:30 pm- Gospel Concert with Storyville Stompers
4:30 pm- Concert at Shaker Village
5-10 pm- Whitaker Bank’s Bayou and Brass

Saturday, June 4, 2022
8 am- Run for the Brass 5k
8:30 am- Yoga in the Park
10 am- Wagons and Wheels Contest
11 am- Main Street Parade
12 pm- Main Stage Music Begins, Food Village and Festival Market open
12-3 pm- Kids Creation Station
5-11 pm Great American Picnic

Sunday, June 5, 2022
8 am- Bike Ride with the Wheelmen
9:15 am- Community Ecumenical Service
11 am-4 pm- Main Stage Music, Food Village and Festival Market open