Coleridge gears up for inaugural Iron Horse Festival

The Iron Horse Festival is set to debut in Coleridge on Saturday, September 14, promising a vibrant celebration of arts and culture in the community. Spearheaded by project manager Cassie Ariver and board member Luke Mills, the festival aims to showcase a variety of artistic expressions, aligning with one of the key goals of the Iron Horse Arts District.

Scheduled to run from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the festival will feature an Artisan Expo, where local vendors and food stalls will be set up in a closed-off downtown area. Attendees can expect a diverse range of demonstrations, including DJ performances, painting, pottery, and poetry readings. The event is designed to provide a \"sampling\" of the artistic offerings in the region, responding to community feedback gathered during the creative arts district feasibility study.

In the afternoon, the festival will transition to a concert featuring notable musicians, including Nebraska Country Music Hall of Fame artist Luke Mills, who is also the founder of Hijack Entertainment. The lineup includes Savannah Chestnut, a former contestant on \"The Voice,\" and Logan Mice, who is currently making waves on the music charts and has performed at the Grand Ole Opry. The outdoor concert is planned to take place in front of the historic depot, with an anticipated attendance of around 2,000 people.

This inaugural festival not only aims to celebrate local talent but also to draw visitors from surrounding areas, potentially as far as Kansas. Organizers express optimism about the event's growth in future years, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and cultural enrichment in Coleridge.