Photo by Zachary Siebert / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo

Blues musician the Rev. Jimmy Bratcher of Kansas City sings soulful tunes with a Christian message Saturday evening at the Save the Lake Blues and Rock Festival.

Several hundred people drifted in and out of the Save the Lake Blues and Rock Festival enjoying the music, food, car show and family fun Saturday afternoon and evening.

Will George’s wife told him about the event so he gathered up the family Saturday afternoon and tooled down to the lake in a 1933 Pontiac hot rod.

“This is what’s left after I took all the un-cool parts and other stuff out of this Pontiac,” Mr. George said.

The proud antique car owner said he was certainly enjoying the good music on such a pleasant day.

“The festival sounded like fun,” said Rabekah Atlakson, 13. She came with family and a girlfriend and said she wanted to stay until things ended at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. The music of guitarist Josh Myers seemed to inspire the teen.

“What he does with a guitar is awesome,” Rabekah said.

The Jimmie Bratcher Band was performing at suppertime Saturday providing foot-tapping blues and riffs with a bit of religion.

Paul Tassler said he came to have a good time and hear the music. And he found a surprise. “It was nice to see the lake so cleaned up,” he said.

The Lake Contrary Development Association hosted the festival as a fundraiser to pay the utility bills for the two pumps. The organization operated a food booth selling barbecue beef, pulled pork and hot dogs to a steady line of customers.

If the festival can raise $1,000 or $2,000 it will be a success, said Joan Bennett, association president. The bill last year for the pumps was $14,000 and the year before, $12,000.

Marshall White can be reached at marshall@npgco.com.