Stone Mountain City's Blue Grassroots Festival Expanding

The Blue Grassroots Music & Arts Festival in the city of Stone Mountain is expanding.

The showcase of bluegrass music and artists' creativity will be two days -- March 23 and 24 -- instead of one, as it's been for three years.

Also, rather than concentrating the activities in the center of Stone Mountain Village, the festival will extend all the way down to James B. Rivers Drive near the Village Corner German Restaurant.

"We're trying to involve both ends of Main Street," said Susan Ryles, executive director of Main Street Stone Mountain.

With the festival now covering two days, "we feel like we can build this into a festival with a really good attendance,' Ryles said. Some 3,000-5,000 people are expected to come to the festival over the Saturday and Sunday dates.

which was founded by Jack Sartain and John Kelley in 2010.

According to information from a press release on the festival, more than 100 artists and artisans, both professional and self-taught, will be part of the festival. There will be two stages on either end of Main Street for performances, as well as music contests at ART Station. Musicians gather at various locations throughout the village during the festival for impromptu jam sessions.

There is no fee to enter the Blue Grassroots Music & Arts Festival. There is a cost for children's activities and food.