20th annual Springfield blues festival celebrating first year under new ownership

SPRINGFIELD, Neb. (WOWT) - Live music and dancing in the middle of a vineyard.

It was the 20th annual Blues Festival at Soaring Wings Vineyard in Springfield Saturday.

It was also the first year under new ownership.

Patrick Ackerman said this is only his second month at the helm after buying the business from retired Air Force pilot Jim Shaw.

Ackerman told 6 News there was no question in his mind that he was going to bring the small town’s annual event back this year.

“This is one of the larger festivals in Springfield,” he said. Springfield has been just super supportive of the winery and the events that we put on, and we’re proud to call Springfield home.”

He brought the entertainment, too. It was more than music, beer, wine and food trucks. It also included skydivers.

And new this year, a kids area.

“We’re really focused on kind of that kids, family-focused or family-friendly winery,” Ackerman said. “I think a lot times, wineries can be seen as an adults-only area.”

Three artists performed, including the New Orleans-based Tyron Benoit Band, which said it was its final stop after playing in Colorado, Washington and Arizona.

“It showed up on the radar, but what’s not to like about music and drinking?” said the band’s manager, David Campbell. “We’ve got good wine, so from Louisiana boys, those connect pretty good.”

Campbell said they want to do it again at the vineyard in the future.

Ackerman said this small community would be missing something if it no longer had the Blues Festival.

“I think not having the Blues Festival here every year doesn’t bring people to the area like it normally would,” he said. “To an area that I think will continue to grow in the next number of years.”

Soaring Wings Vineyard added this festival isn’t going anywhere, and that it plans to keep bringing it back for many years to come.