Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Blue Ridge Fest at the annual event on Friday, April 28, 2017, held at the cooperative’s headquarters in downtown Pickens.
The largest classic car cruise-in and Beach Night show and dance event in the Upstate, Blue Ridge Fest attracts nearly 5,000 attendees and more than 600 classic cars from across the Southeast annually to benefit local charities in the cooperative’s four-county service area.
Since its inception, the event has raised more than $2.2 million for human-help agencies in Anderson, Greenville, Oconee and Pickens counties.
Managed by Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative’s 160 employees, Blue Ridge Fest has served as the cooperative’s annual company-wide philanthropic initiative since 1998. The employees dedicate time and resources to ensure the event maximizes proceeds to local charities, and they also select the beneficiaries from more than a hundred submissions annually.
The charities receiving funds in 2017 include: Anderson Interfaith Ministries, Collins Children’s Home, Dot’s Kitchen of Westminster, Feed a Hungry Child, Helping Hands of Clemson, Hidden Treasure Christian School, Meal on Wheels of Anderson, North Greenville Crisis Ministry, Oconee Disabilities & Special Needs Board, Ripple of One, The Dream Center of Pickens County and United Christian Ministries. Of these, The Dream Center of Pickens County and North Greenville Crisis Ministry have benefitted from Blue Ridge Fest previously, significantly impacting services and programs their able to provide to the community.
“We are very proud to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Blue Ridge Fest, its supporters and the impact it has had on our community over the past two decades,” said Charles Dalton, President and CEO of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative. “At Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, our employees take great pride in knitting themselves into the fabric of our community in their day-to-day operations and see it as a privilege to give back to the communities that we serve with this fun, family-oriented festival.”
Featured entertainment for the 2017 festival boasts beach music, Motown and classic rock ‘n roll headliners from the late 50s and mid-60s. The festival’s line up includes Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Contours, Jim Quick and the Coastline and the Flashbacks.
The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative’s equipment facility at 734 W. Main St. in Pickens. Admission is $20 in advance or $25 at the gate. Children ages 7-12 are admitted for $12 in advance or $15 at the gate, while those ages six or younger are admitted free. Attendees arriving in a classic car (1989 or older) with up to four people are admitted for $30. For classic cars, line-up begins at 2 p.m., and gates open at 3 p.m.
For more information about the event and charities or to purchase tickets online, visit blueridgefest.com or call (800) 240 -3400.
