Country artist Jo Dee Messina will headline the fourth annual Summerfest in Mt. Orab later this year.
The event is set for August 4 and 5, with many activities planned for both days.
“We are excited to announce that Jo Dee Messina will be our featured act this year.  She just recently stopped doing big tours and is going back to fairs and festivals.  We expect that she is going to bring in a big crowd for us,” said Brown County Chamber of Commerce Chairman Brian Elliott.
Messina has nine number one singles on the country chart, 16 top forty hits and has sold five million records over her twenty year music career.
“Summerfest this year is going to be bigger than last year,” said Elliott.
He added that one big change on the way for 2017.
“In talking with the general public, some of them wanted to see something other than country. So we are going to change it up a little on Friday night this year.  We are going to go with “Faithfully”, a Journey tribute band out of Nashville,” said Elliott.
“Who doesn’t know Journey?  I think people will have a lot of fun and enjoy singing along.”
Elliott said that local classic rock band “Phoenix Rising” would be the opening act on Friday night.
The car show at St. Michael’s Church in Georgetown will also return this August.
On Saturday, Elliott said that a very popular local event will make a return.
“The back to school bazaar is on again this year.  Kids can come out to get free backpacks filled with school supplies.”
He also said that a new event would be making its debut on Saturday.
“We are going to have a three on three basketball tournament at the park, with a $1000 prize going to the winning team.”
Elliott said that many of the food vendors from last year are expected to return, along with some new offerings.
“Something else we are doing new this year is teaming up with the Brown County Shop With a Cop program.  Admission to the event will be two dollars per person with a portion of the proceeds going to Shop With a Cop.”
The popular program involves police officers taking children out for christmas shopping, a meal and a movie.  All of the costs are donated, with approximately $500 spent on each child.
Elliott said that some may object to the addition of an admission charge this year, but said that the chamber is just trying to keep up with expenses for the event and do some good for local kids at the same time.
“Everybody would like to see the event get bigger and better every year, but we have to have sponsors and help from the public to make that happen,” Elliott said.
The Mt. Orab Auto Mall is the presenting sponsor this year.  Elliott said that the vehicle raffle would also return this year.
“We are going to be giving away a 2017 Ford Fusion or $20,000 cash depending on how many raffle tickets are sold,” Elliott said.
“I would like to invite everyone to come out on August 4 and 5 and have a great time at Summerfest.”