With an increased focus on music, the Rally 'Round Greenville Festival is about to reach a crescendo as the Sept. 16-18 "Wow Weekend" approaches.

Conceived six years ago as an adjunct to the Cotton Patch Challenge Bicycle Race, the festival has grown in new directions over the years.

Sponsored this year by L-3 Communications - Mission Integration, the street festival will include three days of music, wine tastings, food of all kinds, kids' activities, a barbecue and chili cook-off and tour buses to see Greenville's latest attraction, the rare white buffalo Lightning Medicine Cloud.

"We're proud that the festival continues to serve as a draw for the bicyclists and their families," said Greenville Tourism Director Milton Babb. "In fact, the largest number of cyclists ever, about 2,000, are expected due to some enhancements in the race. But music is playing an increasing role in the success of the festival."

An encore of one of last year's most popular attractions is scheduled for the evening of Friday, Sept. 16. Landon Winery will again sponsor a free concert and street dance with Dallas' top-rated Emerald City Band. The 14-piece, 4 horn band regularly plays some of the Dallas area's top events and even played twice at the White House in Washington, DC. They will begin their performance on the Bud Light Stage on the Courthouse Square beginning at 8 pm.

A Sock Hop is also planned at the Blue Armadillo Winery that Friday evening.

On Saturday, there will be an eclectic mix of musical performances, to say the least.

Beginning at 10 am and continuing until noon, acoustic artists will be stationed all along Lee Street, which will be closed to vehicular traffic to better serve pedestrians and festival-goers. Scheduled to perform are Matthew Key, Brandon Callies and Erik's Parents (Bettina and David Zvanut).

The festival zone will have stages at either end.

At Lee and Stonewall, the Kids Alley Stage will feature performances from Burns Studio, Phoenix Charter School, THEO, AODMT, Matt Labrot, Colton Lewis and Dance Matrix. Kids Alley is sponsored by Hunt Regional Medical Center and Keep Greenville Beautiful.

The main Bud Light Stage will be located at Lee and Oak Streets, facing east. The Blandelles take the stage at noon, followed by European Ensemble (a four woman string quartet), Josh Davis (award-winning teen Elvis tribute artist), the Vince Lujan Project (Jazz/Blues band from Denton), Back Porch Mary, Jonathan Jeter and the Revelators, Yelba and Latin Fire (Latin cross-over band from Houston) and headliner Ray Wylie Hubbard.

The Bud Light Stage is sponsored by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies, KETR Radio, Terry Driggers Real Estate and Ben E. Keith.

If that musical assortment isnšt enough, festival-goers can take a bus from the Municipal Auditorium out to Lakota Buffalo Ranch, where in addition to seeing the white buffalo, they can listen to Native American drums and flute music. Buses will run on the hour beginning at 10 am.

On Sunday, musical artists include rising country star Chastity Ross, The Napper Sisters (likely the only sister act youšll hear who are also practicing attorneys) and Bad Moon Rising, a Credence Clearwater Revival tribute band.

For more information on Rally Round Greenville, contact the Greenville Chamber of Commerce/ Convention and Visitors Bureau at 903-455-1510.