The 2004 Murphysboro BluesFest date and location has been finalized! We appreciate everyone's patience while the kinks have been worked out. Here are the details:

When: Sept 10th-12th
Where: Shawnee Salt Petre Cave
Who: TBD - call 618.687.9663 for more details and booking.

See below for more information about the cave and directions.

We are in need of Arts & Crafts Vendors, Food & Drink Vendors, and other vendors as well. Please call 618.687.9663 if interested.

Shawnee Salt Petre Cave is located in Southern Illinois. It is one of the largest caves in the midwest surrounded by a nature preserve. This cave has a naturally formed amphitheatre where the sounds of blues can be heard even without a PA system. Imagine yourself at the base of 125 ft. rock wall, inside a 210 ft. deep opening and 140 ft. wide mouth of a cave. Located on a beautiful 53 acres right next door to the beautiful Shawnee Forest (So. IL.). The cave is an amazing structure of wonder created over 1,000,000 years ago and faces deep into the Mississippi River Valley.
Directions to the event from various locations:


From Carbondale, IL:

1. Take Route 13 W.


2. Turn LEFT onto unnamed road becomes MURPHYSBORO RD/ OLD HIGHWAY 13. (There will be a Krogers on the left, and a Cherry Hill Real Estate office on the right)


3. Turn LEFT onto HIGHWAY 127 S. (You will see a sign that says ETHERTON with an arrow pointing left.)


4. Follow that road down thru ETHERTON and look for the sign on the right that will read "SALT PETRE CAVE, A BEAUTIFUL PARK. NEXT RIGHT"


5. Entrance will be on the RIGHT.

From Bloomington, IL:

1. Take I-74 E toward CHAMPAIGN.


2. Merge onto I-57 S via exit number 179A toward MEMPHIS.


3. Merge onto IL-13 W via exit number 54B toward CARBONDALE.


4. Go thru MARION, CARTERVILLE, and CARBONDALE.


5. Turn LEFT onto unnamed road becomes MURPHYSBORO RD/ OLD HIGHWAY 13. (There will be a Krogers on the left, and a Cherry Hill Real Estate office on the right)


6. Turn LEFT onto HIGHWAY 127 S. (You will see a sign that says ETHERTON with an arrow pointing left.)


7. Follow that road down thru ETHERTON and look for the sign on the right that will read "SALT PETRE CAVE, A BEAUTIFUL PARK. NEXT RIGHT"


8. Entrance will be on the RIGHT.

From Chicago, IL:

1. Take I 57 S. towards MEMPHIS. It's a long drive so please drive safely and buckle up.


2. Merge onto IL-13 W via exit number 54B toward CARBONDALE.


3. Go thru MARION, CARTERVILLE, and CARBONDALE.


4. Turn LEFT onto unnamed road becomes MURPHYSBORO RD/ OLD HIGHWAY 13. (There will be a Krogers on the left, and a Cherry Hill Real Estate office on the right)


5. Turn LEFT onto HIGHWAY 127 S. (You will see a sign that says ETHERTON with an arrow pointing left.)


6. Follow that road down thru ETHERTON and look for the sign on the right that will read "SALT PETRE CAVE, A BEAUTIFUL PARK. NEXT RIGHT"


7. Entrance will be on the RIGHT.

From Cape Girardeau, MO.:

1. Take MO-34/ MO-74/ MORGAN OAK ST.


2. MO-34/ MO-74/ MORGAN OAK ST becomes IL-146.


3. Turn RIGHT onto IL-146/ IL-146 W.


4. Turn LEFT onto IL-127/ BLACK DIAMOND HWY. Continue to follow IL-127.


5. Follow HIGHWAY 127 up thru POMONA and look for the sign on the right that will read "SALT PETRE CAVE, A BEAUTIFUL PARK. NEXT LEFT"


6. Entrance will be on the LEFT.

From St. Louis, MO:

1. Take I-64 E toward ILLINOIS.


2. Merge onto the IL-127 exit- exit number 50- toward CARLYLE/ NASHVILLE IL.


3. Turn RIGHT onto IL-127 S.


4. (You will stay on HIGHWAY 127 all the way to the cave, but will make the following turns on Highway 127 to get there.)


5. Stay straight to go onto N MAIN ST.


6. Turn LEFT onto N MAIN ST.


7. Turn LEFT onto IL-127/ IL-13/ IL-154.


8. Turn RIGHT onto IL-127/ IL-13/ S MAIN ST. Continue to follow IL-127 S/ IL-13 E.


9. Turn RIGHT onto IL-127 S/ IL-149 W/ IL-13 BR W.


10. Turn LEFT onto IL-127/ S 5TH ST.


11. Turn RIGHT onto IL-127.


12. Follow that road down thru ETHERTON and look for the sign on the right that will read "SALT PETRE CAVE, A BEAUTIFUL PARK. NEXT RIGHT"


13. Entrance will be on the RIGHT.

From Paducah, KY:

1. Take I-24 W.


2. Take the IL-146 exit- exit number 16- toward VIENNA/ GOLCONDA.


3. Turn LEFT onto IL-146.


4. Turn RIGHT onto US-51 N.


5. Turn LEFT onto CR-8/ WING HILL RD. Continue to follow CR-8.


6. Turn RIGHT onto OLD US-51 HWY/ N FRONT ST. Continue to follow OLD US-51 HWY.


7. Turn LEFT onto CR-2/ SKYLINE DR. Continue to follow CR-2.


8. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto IL-127/ BLACK DIAMOND HWY. Continue to follow IL-127.


9. Follow HIGHWAY 127 up thru POMONA and look for the sign on the right that will read "SALT PETRE CAVE, A BEAUTIFUL PARK. NEXT LEFT"


10. Entrance will be on the LEFT.

From Louisville, KY:

1. Take I-64 W toward NEW ALBANY/ ST LOUIS.


2. Merge onto I-57 S via the exit- on the left- toward MEMPHIS.


3. Take I 57 S. towards MEMPHIS. It's a long drive so please drive safely and buckle up.


4. Merge onto IL-13 W via exit number 54B toward CARBONDALE.


5. Go thru MARION, CARTERVILLE, and CARBONDALE.


6. Turn LEFT onto unnamed road becomes MURPHYSBORO RD/ OLD HIGHWAY 13. (There will be a Krogers on the left, and a Cherry Hill Real Estate office on the right)


7. Turn LEFT onto HIGHWAY 127 S. (You will see a sign that says ETHERTON with an arrow pointing left.)


8. Follow that road down thru ETHERTON and look for the sign on the right that will read "SALT PETRE CAVE, A BEAUTIFUL PARK. NEXT RIGHT"


9. Entrance will be on the RIGHT.

From Lexington, KY:

1. Take I-64 W toward LOUISVILLE/ CINCINNATI.


2. Merge onto I-57 S via the exit- on the left- toward MEMPHIS.


3. Take I 57 S. towards MEMPHIS. It's a long drive so please drive safely and buckle up.


4. Merge onto IL-13 W via exit number 54B toward CARBONDALE.


5. Go thru MARION, CARTERVILLE, and CARBONDALE.


6. Turn LEFT onto unnamed road becomes MURPHYSBORO RD/ OLD HIGHWAY 13. (There will be a Krogers on the left, and a Cherry Hill Real Estate office on the right)


7. Turn LEFT onto HIGHWAY 127 S. (You will see a sign that says ETHERTON with an arrow pointing left.)


8. Follow that road down thru ETHERTON and look for the sign on the right that will read "SALT PETRE CAVE, A BEAUTIFUL PARK. NEXT RIGHT"


9. Entrance will be on the RIGHT.

From Indianapolis, IN:

1. Take I-70 W


2. Merge onto I-57 S via the exit- on the left- toward MEMPHIS.


3. Take I 57 S. towards MEMPHIS. It's a long drive so please drive safely and buckle up.


4. Merge onto IL-13 W via exit number 54B toward CARBONDALE.


5. Go thru MARION, CARTERVILLE, and CARBONDALE.


6. Turn LEFT onto unnamed road becomes MURPHYSBORO RD/ OLD HIGHWAY 13. (There will be a Krogers on the left, and a Cherry Hill Real Estate office on the right)


7. Turn LEFT onto HIGHWAY 127 S. (You will see a sign that says ETHERTON with an arrow pointing left.)


8. Follow that road down thru ETHERTON and look for the sign on the right that will read "SALT PETRE CAVE, A BEAUTIFUL PARK. NEXT RIGHT"


9. Entrance will be on the RIGHT.

From Memphis, TN:

1. Take I-40 W


2. Merge onto I-55 N via exit number 277 toward BLYTHEVILLE/ JONESBORO.


3. Merge onto I-57 N via exit number 66A toward CHICAGO.


4. Take the IL-146 exit- exit number 30- toward ANNA/ VIENNA.


5. Turn LEFT onto IL-146/ ILLINOIS ROUTE 146 E. Continue to follow IL-146.


6. Turn RIGHT onto US-51 N.


7. Turn LEFT onto CR-8/ WING HILL RD. Continue to follow CR-8.


8. Turn RIGHT onto OLD US-51 HWY/ N FRONT ST. Continue to follow OLD US-51 HWY.


9. Turn LEFT onto CR-2/ SKYLINE DR. Continue to follow CR-2.


10. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto IL-127/ BLACK DIAMOND HWY. Continue to follow IL-127.


11. Follow HIGHWAY 127 up thru POMONA and look for the sign on the right that will read "SALT PETRE CAVE, A BEAUTIFUL PARK. NEXT LEFT"


12. Entrance will be on the LEFT.

From Little Rock, AR:

1. Take I-40 E toward MEMPHIS.


2. Merge onto I-55 N via exit number 277 toward BLYTHEVILLE/ ST LOUIS.


3. Merge onto I-57 N via exit number 66A toward CHICAGO.


4. Take the IL-146 exit- exit number 30- toward ANNA/ VIENNA.


5. Turn LEFT onto IL-146/ ILLINOIS ROUTE 146 E. Continue to follow IL-146.


6. Turn RIGHT onto US-51 N.


7. Turn LEFT onto CR-8/ WING HILL RD. Continue to follow CR-8.


8. Turn RIGHT onto OLD US-51 HWY/ N FRONT ST. Continue to follow OLD US-51 HWY.


9. Turn LEFT onto CR-2/ SKYLINE DR. Continue to follow CR-2.


10. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto IL-127/ BLACK DIAMOND HWY. Continue to follow IL-127.


11. Follow HIGHWAY 127 up thru POMONA and look for the sign on the right that will read "SALT PETRE CAVE, A BEAUTIFUL PARK. NEXT LEFT"


12. Entrance will be on the LEFT.

From Milwaukee, WI:

1. Take I-94 E toward CHICAGO/ INDIANA (Portions toll).


2. Take I-294 S toward INDIANA/ O'HARE (Portions toll).


3. Merge onto I-80 W toward IOWA/ I-57.


4. Merge onto I-57 S via exit number 151A- on the left- toward MEMPHIS.


5. Merge onto IL-13 W via exit number 54B toward CARBONDALE.


6. Go thru MARION, CARTERVILLE, and CARBONDALE.


7. Turn LEFT onto unnamed road becomes MURPHYSBORO RD/ OLD HIGHWAY 13. (There will be a Krogers on the left, and a Cherry Hill Real Estate office on the right)


8. Turn LEFT onto HIGHWAY 127 S. (You will see a sign that says ETHERTON with an arrow pointing left.)


9. Follow that road down thru ETHERTON and look for the sign on the right that will read "SALT PETRE CAVE, A BEAUTIFUL PARK. NEXT RIGHT"


10. Entrance will be on the RIGHT.

From Davenport, IA:

1. Merge onto I-74 E.


2. Merge onto I-474 E via exit number 87A toward INDIANAPOLIS.


3. Merge onto I-74 E toward INDIANAPOLIS.


4. Merge onto I-57 S via exit number 179A toward MEMPHIS.


5. Merge onto IL-13 W via exit number 54B toward CARBONDALE.


6. Stay straight to go onto IL-127 S/ IL-149 W/ IL-13 BR W.


7. Turn LEFT onto IL-127/ S 5TH ST.


8. Turn LEFT onto IL-127.


9. Turn RIGHT onto IL-127.


10. Follow that road down thru ETHERTON and look for the sign on the right that will read "SALT PETRE CAVE, A BEAUTIFUL PARK. NEXT RIGHT"


11. Entrance will be on the RIGHT.