In order to raise awareness while also having a good time, the recovery resource center Will’s Place will host a bluegrass festival Sept. 25 at The Lodge on Hatley Farm.

The Recovery Road Bluegrass Festival will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and feature five bands: The Scott Family, Sweet Potato Pie, Drive Time, Wildwood Honey and the Lonesome River Band. The music will begin at noon.

“We’ve never done anything like this before,” said director of faith based programming Caitlin McAlhany. “This is the biggest fundraiser that Will’s Place has ever done.”

She said she had been talking with Executive Director Allison Hudson about doing some kind of big community event to also raise awareness for the organization for some time and the idea of a bluegrass festival just came to mind.

In addition to the music, there will be yoga sessions every 30 minutes, a bouncy house for young kids and a craft tent, country line dancing and more than 10 local vendors and food trucks.

In between some of the musical performances, there will be 10-minute testimonials from people in the community that are in recovery.

The festival will be a completely sober event so outside coolers/alcohol will not be permitted on the property.

“We want to show people we can still have a good time and not drink,” McAlhany said.

People that are interested can purchase tickets in advance, which cost $20, by going to recoveryroadbluegrassfest.org. They can also purchase tickets at the event, which will cost $25. The festival is free for kids 12 and under.

Each attendant will receive a wristband, allowing them to come and go as they please throughout the day.

McAlhany encourages people to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

Due to limited parking at the farm, people are encouraged to park offsite, including at Fellowship Baptist Church. A shuttle will transport people to the event.

All the proceeds of the festival will benefit Will’s Place and its ministries. These include a youth summer camp for K-6 students, which started this year, and the Silo, a faith community centered in recovery which meets for worship the first and third Sunday of each month at 6 p.m. at The Lodge on Hatley Farm.

“It’s not going to be like every other festival that people have been to but there will be a lot of similarities, including good music,” McAlhany said.