Fun Fact: Did You Know that Allegany County is Home to One of the Country’s Premier Music Festivals?

Del McCoury stands in front of the “Del McCoury Special”

Question: Did you know that Allegany County is home to one of the country’s premier music festivals? It’s true! DelFest, a world-class, family-friendly music festival, is celebrating its tenth anniversary in Allegany County. The music festival has become a major economic engine for the county – attracting 30,000 fans annually, all the while propelling Allegany County into the national spotlight.

Allegany County Commissioners William Valentine and Jacob Shade present the McCoury family with an official citation making them honorary residents of Allegany County

The festival’s founder, bluegrass legend, Grand Ole Opry member, and Grammy-award winning recording artist, Del McCoury, has made it a point to give back to the community. The DelFest Academy provides premier musical education to individuals of all ages and levels of musical ability. And, over the past ten years, The DelFest Foundation has contributed nearly half a million dollars to non-profit organizations in Allegany County.

In recognition of McCoury’s dedication to the county, the Allegany County Commissioners Thursday unveiled “The Del McCoury Special,” a newly restored passenger car on the Western Maryland Railway, named in honor of McCoury, his family, and fans of DelFest. The McCoury family was also presented with an official citation making them honorary citizens of Allegany County.

DelFest 2017 kicks off today and concludes on Sunday at the Allegany County Fairgrounds. For more information, visit www.delfest.com.

Do you have a fun fact to share about your county? If so, please send it to Kevin Kinnally to be featured in MACo’s weekly Fun Fact on Conduit Street.