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Sparta preparing for its annual Lester Flatt Celebration Saturday to honor the city’s bluegrass icon.
The free event will feature bluegrass music from six different groups along with food and other events. Sparta Administrative Clerk Mindy Stone said the celebration has been a part of fall in Sparta for more than 15 years. It honors Flatt who was born near the Putnam/Overton County line and moved to Sparta as a child.
“He was just a, made a big impact on the city of Sparta and we just want to continue to pay tribute to him and our bluegrass roots here in the city of Sparta,” Stone said.
Flatt credited as one of the pioneers of bluegrass music. He joined Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys throughout the 1930s and 40s. He left Monroe in 1948 to form the Foggy Mountain Boys alongside Earl Scruggs.
Along with music, Stone said people can expect to see a car show, as well as vendors with crafts, candies, funnel cakes, face painting, and much more.
“Just show up, eat and drink, enjoy the good music,” Stone said. “We have a car show that goes along with it. The whole square is blocked off. We have over 100 vendor booths set up. It’s just a fun-filled day for the whole county.”
Stone said the event took more than six months to put together. She said the event is for people living near and far, with some coming from as far as Ohio to enjoy the festivities.
