+t +h The sounds of beach music, classic cars and hundreds of motorcycles will soon fill downtown Pickens as the Blue Ridge Fest revs
up for its 12year. The two-day event attracts thousands of people and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities throughout the Upstate. “It is such a great family event,” said Liza Holder, marketing coordinator at Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative. “There’s great music. There’s great fun. You can cruise around and look at cars.” Holder said all the proceeds go to charities in Greenville, Pickens, Oconee and Anderson counties. The festival has raised $810,000 in the last 11 years, she said. Blue Ridge Electric, along with its subsidiary, Blue Ridge Security Systems, organizes the Blue Ridge Fest, which is set for May 15-16.
“It is totally employee volunteers that put on the event,” Holder said.