The Grassroots festival began in 1992 as a music and dance festival to raise money for AIDSWORK, a non-profit group working to help prevent the spread of AIDs. It featured local talent, as well as Zydeco bands from the Bayou. Dancing included swing, cajun, zydeco and clogging. Music ranged from dance genre, to hardcore and punk, to folk. Although it rained on the participants and attendees alike, the festival drew crowds from all age groups and economic, social and educational populations. It was a wild success.
Since then, the Grassroots festival has been held on the third weekend in July each year, growing ever larger and more diverse. Area residents have it on their calendars as a regular appointment not to be missed. The festival offers camping to out of towners and features craft and food booths recently remembered from Ithaca Festival. The atmosphere of the festival is relaxed and friendly. Alcohol is not promoted and the quality of the music and dance experience is very high.