‘Rain or shine,’ Boots and Grace music festival keeps mood upbeat in Saxonburg
SAXONBURG — The weather on Saturday, Sept. 12, made boots a necessity at the first night of the inaugural Boots and Grace Music Festival, but the steady rain couldn’t stop the music festival from filling Saxonburg with upbeat country music
The first-ever Boots and Grace Music Festival, held at First Responders Park by the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company’s station, saw a headliner from Nashville, Karen Waldrup, perform along with homegrown country music performers on Saturday, Sept. 12.
“This was the first time we’ve done anything like this. We’ve played in Zelie, we’ve played at Succop. So, I was a little nervous, but this is such an honor, said local singer Cecilia Tomko said.
Branded “Two Nights. One Heart,” the two-day event featured country music performers on Saturday evening, and Sunday’s lineup would highlight gospel-style music.
Waldrup, a Louisiana native based in Nashville, headlined the show that included Tomko and her band, Doxazo, along with Chicora native Gary Burk III and the Noble Hops, a Pittsburgh-based band.
“I love being able to play. I grew up around it. To see things like this happen in our area, I’ve been playing since I was five years old, and it always seemed like you had to go somewhere else to play in a comparable event. So, this is great,” said Ben Mainhart, a local musician and 2010 Butler High School graduate.
Mainhart played the fiddle for Waldrup’s band Saturday night.
“You’re rehearsing, figuring everything out, then you go up there and pour your heart and soul into the show. It takes a lot,” Mainhart added.
The benefactor of proceeds raised for this year’s music festival was the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company.
Molly Nowakowski, one of the festival’s organizers, said the festival will not be a one-and-done event.
“This is going to be a festival that we have every year,” Nowakowski said. “The money we raise goes into the community. This is about community. It’s about unity. We need that as a country.”
Nowakowski hopes to expand it, including more vendors and artisans while drawing bigger crowds. She emphasized one of the purposes of the festival is “shining light in the dark.”
While the rain did not stop attendees from dancing and singing along, the organizers have big plans. They are hoping for over 1,000 people at future festivals.
“People called me and asked, ‘are you still having it?’ I said, ‘hey, we’re still having it.’ Rain or shine, we’re having this event. And look at it,’” said Scott Docherty, the lead organizer.
Show continues Sunday
Sunday, September 13, 2026 Grace Gospel Music Revival
Time: 5 p.m. (Gates open at 4 p.m.)
An evening of faith, patriotism and gospel music featuring Nashville Headliner Karen Waldrup and special guests. (outdoors- rain or shine)
Both shows include access to food, beverage and a variety of other vendors on-site.
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Karen Waldrup performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Cecilia Tomko performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karen Waldrup performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karen Waldrup performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Audience members wave glowsticks during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karen Waldrup performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Gary Burk III performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Cecilia Tomko, right, dances during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Gary Burk III autographs glowsticks after his performance during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Chesna Tomko, right, and Ranny Overby dance during Cecilia Tomko's performs at the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Gary Burk III performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karen Waldrup performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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From left, Anna Petrovic, Tammy Schuey, Karen Waldrup, Gary Burk III and Scott Docherty stand for a photo after Tammy Schuey won the guitar being raffled during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Gary Burk III performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karen Waldrup performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Shannon and Greg Gromicko dance during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Scott Docherty, right, discusses the guitar being raffled off during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival with attendees of the event in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karen Waldrup performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Michelle from Georgia runs a booth selling Karen Waldrup merchandise during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karen Waldrup performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Scott Docherty and Molly Nowakowski dance during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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A guitar inscribed with the lyrics of Karen Waldrup's song "Normandy" is raffled off during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Gary Burk III performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Audience members wave glowsticks during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karen Waldrup performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karen Waldrup performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karen Waldrup performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karen Waldrup performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karen Waldrup performs during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Darlene Smith, left, and Karole Kelly sing along during the Boots & Grace Butler County Music Festival in Saxonburg, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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