Update – River Country Has Talent

The St. Joseph County Grange Fair Board met Tuesday with representatives from the county’s summer festivals to discuss details of River Country Has Talent.
Fair manager Bill Johnson last month said the 2016 fair plans to showcase local talent instead of a big-name act as part of its entertainment lineup.
The new approach involves a partnership with the county’s eight incorporated communities and their respective summer festivals, which kicks off June 16 with the Three Rivers Water Festival and concludes Sept. 10 with the Constantine Harvest Festival.
Johnson said Tuesday’s meeting cemented details of the plan.
He said the concept involves vocal performances at each of the county’s community festivals as well as from the fair’s Summer Kickoff weekend, June 4 and 5. The top three winners from Summer Kickoff and each of the eight community festivals will assemble as a group of 27 semi-finalists to the fair once it starts Sept. 18.
Then, each act will perform and vie for a $1,500 cash prize.