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State of Illinois

08/04/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/04/2026 11:00

Jerry Ellis Memorial Bluegrass Jam returns to Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site on Aug. 9

SPRINGFIELD - The Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site will host the annual Jerry Ellis Memorial Bluegrass Jam from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9.

The free event welcomes musicians and spectators for a day of informal bluegrass jam sessions. Musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments and join the jam. Visitors are welcome to bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy a day filled with music. Lunch concessions will be available for purchase from the Lincoln Log Cabin Foundation.

The event honors the memory of Jerry Ellis, a retired Eastern Illinois University professor, longtime member of the Illinois Old Time Fiddlers Association and dedicated supporter of the annual bluegrass jam. Following his death in 2024, the event was renamed in his honor.

The annual gathering traces its roots to a bluegrass jam that began at Eastern Illinois University in 1974 before moving to Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, where it has been held for decades.

Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site,
a gateway site for the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, preserves the 1840s home of Abraham Lincoln's father and stepmother, Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln. The site is located eight miles south of Charleston.

The event is presented by Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site and the Lincoln Log Cabin Foundation. No registration is required. For more information, call 217-345-1845 or email [email protected].

About IDNR


The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was established in 1925 as the Illinois Department of Conservation, bringing under one umbrella oversight of fish and game, forestry, public works, and lakes. Today, IDNR's work encompasses management of about 400 sites across Illinois, including state parks and historic sites; wildlife, fisheries, forestry, and natural heritage; Lake Michigan water allocation and coastal management; conservation police; mines and minerals; oil and gas; issuance of licenses, permits, and numerous grants; the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta; and the Illinois State Museum. Visit https://dnr.illinois.gov and follow us on Facebook , YouTube and LinkedIn .
State of Illinois published this content on August 04, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 04, 2026 at 17:00 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]