Attendance was good said John Banks, consultant for the Congaree Bluegrass Festival.

Banks, who is also the Tourism Director at the Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber of Commerce, said estimate are that more than 3,500 visited the festival. It was held at the spacious Historic Columbia Speedway for the first time this year. It was two days of Bluegrass, and then Gospel music on Sunday. There were vendors and exhibits, too.

It was a fun, family friendly event said Cayce Mayor Elise Partin. She said she and her family stayed on the grounds longer than they had planned because it was so much fun.

The festival has been held in the Granby Gardens Park, beside Cayce City Hall, in the past. Last year the festival, in its ninth year this year, was cancelled because it was scheduled the same weekend as the torrential rains that hit the area in 2015. The rain was followed by disasterous flooding. The weather was perfect for the festival Saturday and Sunday.

It was a fun, family friendly event said Cayce Mayor elise Partin. She said she and her family stayed on the grounds longer than they had planned because it was so much fun.