The community of Guthrie Center, with a population of just over 1,560 people (according to the latest numbers), will swell by about 32-percent at the end of July, when two events converge upon the city. According to the Guthrie Center Times, officials learned late last month, that RAGBRAI, with its estimated 10-thousand riders, will be rolling through the town situated half-way between Harlan and Perry, on July 22nd. Less than 4 days later, Guthrie Center will host the annual two-day River Ruckus country music festival, which will bring more than 30,000 people to the community.Last year’s Ruckus brought more than 20,000 people to town.

The paper reports Ruckus promoter Grant Sheeder had originally scheduled to have his 60-foot concert stage trucked into town to begin construction on Monday of the concert week. However, learning RAGBRAI would clog all roads through town, he recently rescheduled the trucks’ arrival time for Sunday, July 21st, instead.

The acts for the River Ruckus, which features some of the biggest names in country music include:
Friday, July 26: Casey Donahew Band, Chris Cagle, and Big and Rich.
Saturday, July 27: Granger Smith, Josh Thompson, Gretchen Wilson, and Hank Williams, Jr.