Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative Announces 15th Annual Blue Ridge Fest
April 24, 2012
Festival Has Provided More Than $1.3 Million For Local Charities
GREENVILLE, SC – Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative has announced that the 15th annual Blue Ridge Fest will take place May 11, 2012 at the cooperative’s office and grounds in Pickens. The festival boasts the largest classic car cruise-in event in the Upstate, along with a Beach Night show and dance.
Special entertainment will feature 1960’s rock-n-roll stars Bobby Rydell and Jimmy Clanton, as well as performances by Jim Quick and Coastline. With more than 4,000 people attending in 2011, Blue Ridge Fest has raised more than $150,000 annually to benefit local human-help organizations in Greenville, Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties.
Since 1998, Blue Ridge Fest has donated nearly $1.3 million to benefit numerous agencies in the Upstate area that provide individuals with basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and health care. This year’s recipients include Anderson Interfaith Ministries, Helping Hands of Clemson, Meals on Wheels, Mountain Lakes Access Health, Oconee A.I.D. Association, Oconee Presbyterian Service Fund, Sabrina House Children’s Charity, and Samaritan Health Clinic of Pickens County, as well as Harvest Hope Food Bank, Safe Harbor, Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources, and United Christian Ministries of Greenville.
“Blue Ridge Fest continues to be a great opportunity to implement our employees’ passion to give back to the community” says Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative President and CEO Charles Dalton. “This event is unique in that the mission of giving back to those in need is paired with employee volunteerism,” said Mr. Dalton.
Blue Ridge Fest is organized and executed by 250 Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and Blue Ridge Security employee volunteers, enabling the festival to maximize its proceeds to benefit local charities.
The event will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative’s covered outdoor facility at 734 W. Main St. in Pickens. Admission is $15 in advance or $20 at the gate. Children ages 7–12 are admitted for $8 in advance or $10 at the gate, while those ages six or younger are admitted free. Attendees arriving with up to four people in a classic car (1979 or older) are admitted for $25. For classic cars, line-up begins at noon, and gates open at 2:00 p.m.
For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.blueridge.coop/blueridgefest
or call (800) 240-3400.
About Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Inc., established in 1940, is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution utility that serves more than 63,000 customers in the Upstate of South Carolina. The cooperative supplies electric service in Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties. Blue Ridge started operations with 1,680 members inherited from the South Carolina Rural Electrification Authority, which was formed over 70 years ago with the specific task of electrifying the state’s rural areas.
