GREENVILLE — A large crowd gathered Friday evening on the lawn of the Greenville Public Library as the Darke County Center for the Arts hosted its annual BBQ & Blues fundraiser, featuring live music, local food vendors and family-friendly entertainment.
The event, DCCA’s largest fundraiser of the year, featured blues-rock band Blackjack Davey as the headlining act, with special guest Will Freed opening the evening.
“It’s the biggest fundraiser we do of the year — a great event,” said David Warner, DCCA artistic director of performing arts. “We have an excellent crowd tonight.”
Warner said the organization expanded its food offerings this year to enhance the experience for attendees.
“We have added and increased the food vendors,” Warner said. “We have a nice selection of food vendors this year.”
Food vendors included Badge’s BBQ, Fren-Cheese Eats, Cray Cray Cajun, Buckeye Burger, and Creme de la Creme, giving visitors a wide variety of barbecue and festival favorites.
“It’s a great event. It’s growing,” Warner said. “We have some good music, and everything worked out really well for us.”
Guests filled the library lawn throughout the evening, enjoying live blues music, food, and a festive summer atmosphere.
Warner said the successful fundraiser is an encouraging sign as DCCA looks ahead to another strong season of performances.
“It’s going to be a good year for DCCA,” Warner said. “We have some bluegrass. We have the Queen of Bluegrass, Rhonda Vincent, coming back, so we really have some good shows coming.”
Warner thanked the community and sponsors whose support helps make the annual event possible.
Major event sponsors included George and Becky Luce, Dan and Gail Mueller, Jim and Julia Poeppelman, the Dill Family Foundation and Zechar Bailey Funeral Homes.
Additional support was provided by the Greenville Public Library, Ohio Arts Council, City of Greenville, Financial Achievement Services Inc., Rumpke Waste & Recycling, and the Butterflies Junior Garden Club.
