SANTEE -- The seventh annual Lone Star Bluegrass and Country Music Hoedown will offer four days of free family fun on Memorial Day weekend at Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile in Santee.

The festival will run Thursday through Sunday, May 21-24. Ten different bands plus an open-stage session will provide this year's entertainment.

On Thursday, Lexington's Carolina Country will kick things off from 6:45 to 9 p.m. inside the restaurant. Friday's entertainment will move outside and under the trees, as Carolina Hayride of Columbia will deliver a combination of country and bluegrass tunes from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m., followed by Sumter's Front Porch Pickers, who will play from 8 to 10 p.m.

There will be a full day of outdoor entertainment on Saturday, with five bands performing throughout the day. The Claude Lucas Bluegrass Band from Gaston will play from noon to 1:30 p.m. and provide back-up for the open-stage session from 2 to 4 p.m. During the open stage, musicians are invited to demonstrate their singing and picking talents.

From 4 to 6 p.m., Mama and the Boys of Walterboro will perform old-time country. Then, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., The Sweetgrass Girls of Summerville will entertain with a selection of country and bluegrass numbers. Britney Odom of Manning will entertain the crowd with classic country and gospel numbers, accompanied by her guitar, from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Rounding out the day will be the Sugar Loaf Mountain Boys of the Midlands, who will provide traditional bluegrass sounds from 8 to 10 p.m.

Two groups will entertain inside the restaurant on Sunday. The Amick Junction Bluegrass and Gospel Music Band of Batesburg will perform a selection of bluegrass and gospel numbers from noon to 1:45 p.m. Amick Junction will be followed by the hoedown's closing act, the Midlands' Diamonds in the Rough, entertaining with a combination of country, bluegrass and gospel tunes.

"There is no admission fee for any of the performances, although the bands do expect tips," said Pat Williams, event organizer and owner of Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile. "The hoedown is a family-friendly event, where there is something for all ages to enjoy. With today's economy, it also represents a full weekend of very affordable entertainment."

On Friday and Saturday, spectators are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the outdoor entertainment.

For more information, call the restaurant at 803-854-2000 or 803-515-3938, or visit lonestarbbq.net.

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