Mackville
  • Home
  • Schedule
  • Chet Kingery Memorial Bluegrass Festival
  • Our Music
  • Contact Us
  • Past Shows
  • Photos
  • Archives
  • Home
  • Schedule
  • Chet Kingery Memorial Bluegrass Festival
  • Our Music
  • Contact Us
  • Past Shows
  • Photos
  • Archives
Order Tickets!

Picture

​2025 Festival


Date: Friday, May 9th and Saturday, May 10th

Location: The Historic Chautauqua At Forest Park, Shelbyville, IL (Indoors-Rain or Shine)
Address: 325 N 9th Ave, Shelbyville, IL

Stay tuned for further updates!


2025 Festival Flyer

Picture


​Festival Schedule

Friday Night Stage Schedule

6:00 - Mackville
7:00 - Kings Highway
8:00 - The Special Consensus

Saturday Stage Schedule
​

11:00 - Mackville
12:00 - Kings Highway
1:00 - The Price Sisters
2:00 - The Little Roy and Lizzy Show
3:00 - Supper Break
4:00 - Mackville
5:00 - Kings Highway
6:00 The Price Sisters
7:00 - The Grascals
8:30 - The Little Roy and Lizzy Show

Saturday Music Workshops
​

2:00 - Songwriting with Jack Shannon
3:00 -
Fiddle with Leanna Price
4:00 - Banjo with Little Roy
5:00 - Mandolin with Danny Roberts
6:00 - Guitar with Mikayla Burrows


​Workshops are located in the senior building south of the Chautaugua Auditorium


Bands - Hotel - Camping - Information Below
Picture


​WELCOME TO THE CHET KINGERY MEMORIAL BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL



​In Memory of Chet Kingery - 1931 - 1998
Picture
Picture

The first Chet Kingery Memorial Bluegrass Festival was held on May 18, 2013 at Rockome Gardens. Its name was deemed and honored in memory of a great local bluegrass musician, Chet Kingery, who passed away in 1998. Chet Kingery played guitar with his band, Chet Kingery and the Knights of Bluegrass.




Our band, Mackville, is the host band for this festival. We are excited and proud to bring you this fantastic lineup of talent to this year's festival.  Come and enjoy great music!  We will be performing as well as the other bands listed below.

2025 Lineup

Picture
grascals.com/
Picture

www.specialc.com/

Picture

littleroyandlizzy.com/

Picture

https://www.thepricesisters.com/

Picture

www.facebook.com/share/1Bu84bqLPi/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Picture

Hotel and Camping Information

​The Shelby Inn
217-774-3991
www.theshelbyinn.com

use promo code: FANS

The Foxmore Lodge
​

https://www.thefoxmore.com/stay
​They are offering a festival discount.

http://www.lakeshelbyville.com/accommodations.htm

Camping Nearby - www.recreation.gov. Opossum Creek is the nearest campground to festival but is undergoing renovations until May 18, 2025. The next closest campgrounds are Coon Creek IL or Lithia Springs but there are numerous other campgrounds nearby.

Primitive Tent Camping Onsite


TOURISM INFORMATION

http://www.lakeshelbyville.com/

https://shelbyvilleillinois.net/


​



​Helpful Hints & Frequently Asked Questions

The festival will be held inside so there is no need to worry about the elements of rain or wind. We will have a few doors opened depending on the weather so bring a jacket or blanket in case it might be cool.

There will be reserved seating with padded chairs. For general admission there will be bench seating available if you don’t want to bring your lawn chairs but feel free to do so as there will be plenty of room to find a perfect spot.

Handicapped parking is available at the Senior Center parking lot with a sidewalk leading to the Chautauqua. Golf carts will be available for assistance to and from the Senior Center. Just ask someone and they will assist you as quickly as possible.


Only service dogs are allowed inside the Chautauqua.

Those who 16 and under are free admission.

Pavilions near the Chautauqua are reserved by the festival and are available for jamming and eating.

Restrooms and workshops are located at Senior Center south of the Chautauqua. We will also have portable restrooms and hand washing stations near the Chautauqua.

Food Trucks & Treats:
Highway Heartburn (menu below)
The Caffinator - Specialty Coffee, Tea & Cinnamon Rolls
Ice Cream Shack - Ice Cream
White Pines Bakery - Homemade Fried Pies
Pauletta’s Place - Kettle Corn & Flavored Popcorn


Picture
Picture



ABOUT THE CHAUTAUQUA AT FOREST PARK

The Chautauqua Auditorium was built in 1903 and is a large historic icosagonal (20 sides) wooden meeting and event hall. On January 30, 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

​“It is the largest building of its kind anywhere in the world. The building was constructed by a local bridge builder and designed with a unique system of structural support. Because of this, there are no interior pillars to block the view of the stage.The large stage features three female Grecian statues representing Art, Music and Drama. These statues were works from renowned Illinois artist and Shelbyville native Robert Root.
In 2009 Landmarks Illinoisdeclared it one of the 10 most endangered historic places in Illinois. The building is in need of extensive repairs which are estimated to cost $1,750,000. The city of Shelbyville which owns the auditorium has threatened to tear it down if repairs cannot be made within 2 years. The Chautauqua Auditorium Preservation Committee is working on funding for a four-phase renovation project.
In 2020, 60% of local residents voted in favor of restoring the historic auditorium instead of demolishing it. Required restoration work included structural repairs, a new roof and floor, painting and a new stage. These preservation efforts were supported by Landmarks Illinois. The Chautauqua reopened in September 2021.”
Ref: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chautauqua_Auditorium_(Shelbyville,_Illinois)

Did You Know?  Famous people who have performed at the Chautauqua include: In the early days, President William Howard Taft, three-time presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan, and evangelist Billy Sunday were highlighted.  In more recent times, Dolly Parton, Allison Kraus and REO Speedwagon have performed here.
Chet Kingery Memorial Bluegrass Festival Sponsors -2025

We would like to say THANK YOU for your contribution to this festival! Without the support of these sponsors, this festival would not be possible. Please patronize these businesses or just say THANK YOU to them for their support and contribution.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!


PLATINUM

Shelby County State Bank

Arthur Oral Healthcare

Graber Building Supply

GOLD

Oye's Hardware

Roselen’s Coffee & Delights

Tri-County Welding

SILVER

Bella Vista Farms

Coach House Garages

Dagny Builders

Galt Excavating

Iconic Insulation


Monical’s Pizza of Shelbyville

Nisley’s Quality Coating


R & M Installs
​
Yoder’s Kitchen

BRONZE

Country Salvage Store

Crist Termite & Pest Solutions

Jo’s Country Diner & Catering

Dutch Valley Meats

Kingery Motors

Schlabach’s Bike Shop

The Shelby Inn

Software Solutions Integrated LLC (Shelbyville)






Past Festival Flyers

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture



FESTIVAL WEATHER WATCH

Click to set custom HTML



Picture
© 2018 Mackville.  All Rights Reserved.