Since the mid-2000’s, the Gandy Dancer Bluegrass Festival has drawn crowds to Mazomanie for cheer, great music, and all-day family-friendly festivities. The festival is centered around bluegrass music, and has welcomed local artists such as The Handpicked Bluegrass Band, Soggy Prairie, and Art Stevenson & High Water, in addition to nationally-recognized acts including The Steel Wheels, Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, and Henhouse Prowlers.
In addition to music, the festival strives to educate visitors about the development of bluegrass music, the rise of the American railroads, and how the village of Mazomanie, and surrounding communities, fit into these stories. With the inclusion of S-Gauge Wisconsin in years prior, the bluegrass jam being a mainstay throughout the festival’s history, and the more recent inclusion of musical education and speaker visits, Gandy Dancer strives to showcase the rich history of bluegrass music and the railroads as they have shaped, and continue to shape, our communities.
The Gandy Dancer Bluegrass Festival also welcomes a variety of local food vendors from organizations like the Mazomanie Lions Club and private vendors such as 608 Kitchen, a kids’ activity tent provided by the Black Earth Children’s Museum, a children’s train ride provided by the Cross Plains Lions Club, refreshments for all, and an eclectic array of displays, info sessions and more to provide a family-friendly experience with something for everyone to enjoy – all this in just one day! We do our best to ensure the festival is ADA-inclusive, and are always open to suggestions for improvements on prior festivals as well.
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The Gandy Dancer Bluegrass Festival is presented as a branch of the Mazomanie Charitable Alliance, and a list of our goals in the community is available here. We’d like to extend our thanks to Wick Buildings, Cardinal Glass, and The People’s Community Bank, and many, many more local businesses for your continued support through generous donations – it all adds up to making this festival what it is!