PICKENS — The Pickens Azalea Festival has added a fall fundraising concert to its festival lineup with Rock the Fall Ball at 7 p.m. Nov. 13.

The inaugural event is designed to support not only the Azalea Festival’s mission to help local nonprofits, but also an identified area nonprofit partner. This year’s nonprofit partner is Upstate Warrior Solution.

An engaged community is extremely important to our overall success, said Theresa Thompson, Community Development Director for Upstate Warrior Solution.

“We are excited to be involved in this year’s Azalea Festival and look forward to a continued partnership with the Pickens community,” she said.

Upstate Warrior Solution is a community based not-for-profit organization that generates quality of life solutions for Upstate veterans, active duty, National Guard, and Reserve warriors and their families.

Entertainment lineup for the event will feature longtime country music group, Confederate Railroad, and up-and-coming country rock artist and local boy Benton Blount. The event will also include other local artists and Pickens County native J. Adam Broome, and newcomer Matt Tucker.

This is the first major event that Pickens has seen in a long time, said Russ Gantt, festival director.

“We’re excited to put the Historic Bruce Field Stadium to good use,” he said “It’s a great venue and this event will really put Pickens on the map.”

Specially priced tickets for veterans went on sale Friday with $2 of all advanced general admission ticket sales going to benefit Upstate Warrior Solution.

Visit www.pickensazaleafestival.com for more information or to buy tickets.

Staff Report