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Rylee, Tabitha and Ashley sind a Taylor Swift mash up.

Rhett Wesley entertains the crowd.

Natalie Fixler and Katherine Apel entertained the crowd at this years event at Griffin Farms.

Friends Hannah Weinstein, Maria Timberlake and Sarah Holditch enjoy music at thiis years event.

Jordan Watts gets some Magic City Sweet Ice from David Shaw.

Cory Arceneaux cooks up some food for That's My Dog.

Lilly, Chloe and Celeste Cost play together on the ball toss.

Alhanna Allen plays one of the many games available at this years event.

Molly Cost and Maryeleen at the petting zoo.

Larry Taylor and his son Harry enjoy an evening of musical entertainment.

Katherine Fowler on piano and Ashley Vourlotis on vocals.

Laura Edwards get a kiss from a pony at the petting zoo.

Clair Pocatek enjoys the petting zoo.

Madeline and Katie Brooks.

By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Dozens of families came out to enjoy the fall weather and sunshine on Oct. 29, at Griffin Farms of Helena as the farm celebrated Halloween weekend by hosting a free student concert and fall festival.

The family-friendly atmosphere featured a petting zoo, food trucks including That’s My Dawg! and Magic City Sweet Ice, a costume contest, games and live music from Stickandstrum Academy students.

Many of the academy students came out to Griffin Farms and played a variety of instruments for those in attendance.

Stickandstrum Academy is located in Riverchase and offers group and private lessons in guitar, drums, piano, voice and most other instruments.

Shauna Nicholas and her husband Shane started Stickandstrum Academy in 2014 and teach music lessons to people of all ages, but on Oct. 29, the students put on the student concert at Griffin Farms.

“We found out about Griffin Farms this summer and we asked to take a tour of the property,” said Shauna. “Amy Griffin, the owner of the farm, has a daughter who wanted to take guitar lessons and we needed a place for our student concert so it worked out well.”

Shauna said the academy teaches lessons to people that range in age “from one to 80-years-old” but the main demographic at the academy are students between the ages of 8-16.

The concert performances ranged from beginner guitar and piano students to more advanced students that regularly play gigs around town at restaurants and community events.

Stickandstrum Academy RockSchool classes are designed for beginners and advanced students and the Little Rockers classes provide a fun learning environment for kids ages 5 and under. The Academy describes itself as “a fun, laid-back studio with a great community of students.”

In the future, the academy plans to host this event each spring and fall, and Griffin Farms routinely hosts birthday parties, wedding receptions, baby showers, family reunions, corporate gathering and more on a weekly basis located at 6027 Shelby County 17.

For more information of Stickandstrum Academy, visit Stickandstrum.com.

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