HOPKINSVILLE, KY – The award-winning 6th annual Hopkinsville Summer Salute festival rolls into downtown Hopkinsville this Friday and Saturday with the region abuzz about Saturday night’s free headline performance from KC and the Sunshine Band.
Winners of multiple Grammy Awards, KC and the Sunshine Band will perform on the Justice Center Stage at 7 p.m. Saturday. The show will open with up-and-coming Nashville independent artist Cassandra. KCSB will take over around 8 o’clock with their dance groove that brings 14 performers to the stage. KC and his crew will entertain with a string of Top 10 hits like “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s The Way (I Like It),” “Shake Your Booty” and “Boogie Shoes.”
The Justice Center Stage seating area opens at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. It will be closed until then to allow staging, sound and lights setup, sound checks and other logistics to move forward for the night. The VIP chair seats are only for patrons with special wristbands from festival sponsors. The remainder of the parking lot, sides and riverfront areas are general admission festival style seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Summer Salute has tried to book KC and the Sunshine Band for three years, but the pandemic prevented it from happening until this year,” said Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tab Brockman. “The show is high-energy, fun dance music that will be a great wrap-up to this year’s Summer Salute. The KCSB show includes costume changes and a night full of music that takes folks back to the time of bellbottoms and leisure suits.
“The interest and excitement about this year’s Summer Salute is at an all-time high and we expect to see some folks in their best ’70s attire. There is a costume contest from the crowd sponsored by Jennie Stuart Health and some folks will be picked for front row seats based on their outfits,” Brockman added.
Summer Salute has sponsorship support from 32 companies, which allows it to offer free kiddie rides, bouncers and music. The Saturday music sponsors are ATMOS, Jennie Stuart Health, Hopkinsville Energy System, Novelis, Pennyrile Electric, Fortera Credit Union, Oak Grove Racing and Gaming, HWEA and radio hosts WKDZ/WHVO.
The Bluegrass Beverage Stage moves to the Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library lot this year where The Jimmy Church Band will be making their annual appearance on Friday at 6 pm, courtesy of Huhtamaki and radio hosts WRND/Rewind 94.3. On Saturday at 3:30 p.m., local favorite Jason Montgomery Band takes the Bluegrass Beverage Stage to fill the Bethel/9th Street intersection with smooth pop sounds of today and yesterday.
Saturday festival music is presented by ATMOS Energy, Fortera Credit Union, Hopkinsville Electric System, Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority, Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel and Pennyrile Electric. All festival music performances are free of charge and offer festival seating.
This year’s new layout allows for a wide array of free activities at the Kid’s Zone and Fun Zone, with Fox Creek Amusement returning after a year away. Multiple free bouncers for ages 12-under will be located in Little River Park.Kid’s Zone. The Fun Zone amusement rides are now in Founders Square and Bethel Street. The Fun Zone rides include the traditional free kiddie rides (determined by child weight). A new section of Fun Zone thrill rides are offered this year for a $15 wristband for unlimited half-day ride sessions (11 a.m.-4 p.m., and 4-10 p.m.).
An outstanding mix of craft and food vendors will be along 9th Street Friday and Saturday to add to the festival atmosphere. The beer and beverage garden will be at the Bluegrass Beverage Stage on Friday and then relocate west on 9th Street, closer to the Justice Center on Saturday.
“We are so appreciative of the great family of sponsors who make Summer Salute possible and it wouldn’t be possible to have it without them,” Brockman shared. “Our vendor booths sold out in record fashion back in June and we are thankful for those great merchants and food vendors who make this an award-winning event.”
Downtown traffic will be impacted from Thursday night at 5 p.m. through Sunday at 4 a.m. Official festival vendor load-in begins at 5 p.m. Thursday. Ninth Street will be closed from the 7th/9th Street split to Main Street. Bethel Street will also be closed from 7th to 10th Streets. Seventh Street will remain open throughout the festival for downtown through traffic.