MECOSTA TOWNSHIP — Mecosta Township is set to welcome the Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame for a benefits show this weekend.
The annual Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame Country and Gospel Music Benefits Show is 2-6 p.m. Sunday at the Mecosta V.F.W. at 1050 W. Main St. in Mecosta and will feature many of the Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame members.
The event is free to the public with everyone welcome to come, organizer Maxine Vader said.
This is the fourth iteration of the Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame. It has been in operation for four years, with a location in Charlotte, Michigan. This show, along with a others, are used to raise money to pay the rent to host the Hall of Fame in Charlotte.
“We rent the finest theater in our area and show a lot Michigan that theater arts and it’s really elaborate really nice,” hall of fame president David Dickerson said. “It costs a pretty penny but we’re really trying to do the best we can and these benefit shows help finance all these things and is able to keep Hall of Fame afloat.”
During the event, there will be a 50/50 raffle and an auction featuring a number of small items such as a jacket from Nashville, Tennessee, potentially an old guitar and a number of items that are not yet known. Some of the hall of fame members who attend may also perform.
The event is being put on by Donah Hyland, Leon Sither, Mike McGrath and Vader.
The Michigan Hall of Fame consists of about 200 members and hosts three to four of these benefit shows throughout the state each year.
On Aug. 19, the Hall of Fame will have an induction ceremony in Charlotte for eight new members: Jack Mollette, Bernie Nelson, Dick Palmer, Ray Brown, Eric Jerome Brodberg, John Wayne Chapelo, Butch Broad and George Broad.
For more information on the benefit show in Mecosta call 231-679-0986 or Dickerson at 517-282-8258.