“Our kids are the Bluegrass Blondies,” Karen Rouw said.

Their daughter, Dawn Amos, son-in-law Scott Amos, and granddaughters, Taylor Robinson, Bethany Amos, and Hallie Amos, make up the band.

The Ottumwa-based band plays bluegrass, country, gospel, and Christian music throughout the Midwest.

“We try to see them when we can,” Karen Rouw said. “It’s great to hear them play, and they are really good.”

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Scott Amos, of the Bluegrass Blondies, strums on his banjo during a performance at the 33rd annual Stratford Stride Bluegrass Festival Sunday afternoon.

The name blondies comes from the kids all having blonde hair, Karen Rouw said.

“Scott used to have blonde hair anyway,” she said.

Scott Amos plays banjo and has for 37 years.

According to him, bluegrass is centered around families.

“It’s family oriented music,” he said. “It’s all good, clean fun. It’s quality entertainment for the family.”

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Hallie Amos, of the Bluegrass Blondies, performs during the Stratford Stride Bluegrass Festival Sunday afternoon.

And families are how the music has continued on through the years, he said.

“It’s grassroots music that started right here in the United States,” Scott Amos said. “The music originated in the Appalachian Mountains. It was called mountain music.”

“It’s a very welcoming community of music,” he added. “That’s how music lives on — we pass it on from person to person.”

The Bluegrass Blondies have been playing for about 10 years, but Scott Amos said he has been to Stratford’s festival at Stratford City Park about 20 times.

“We have watched this park develop,” he said. “It’s like a family reunion coming back every year. We can tell that the town appreciates it. We love Stratford because the community supports it.”

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Bethany Amos, of the Bluegrass Blondies, is shown on stage during the band's performance at Stratford City Park Sunday afternoon.

Despite the heat on Sunday with temperatures in the upper 80s, the shade of the trees provided a comfortable atmosphere for attendees.

“Nothing like sitting in the shade with friends and family, enjoying great music,” Scott Amos said.

LeRoy Rouw said the band doesn’t just play at parks and churches.

“They play at a lot of different places,” he said. “Their mission is to serve Christ through their music. They play in care centers, churches, you name it.”

Doris Andersen, of Stratford, was in attendance to hear the music.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Teagan Hanson, of Stratford, dances to the music with some help from her mother, Nicole Hanson, of Stratford, during the 33rd annual Stratford Stride Bluegrass Festival Sunday afternoon. Teagan Hanson is five months old.

She said she has been coming off and on for several years.

“I like bluegrass and country music,” she said. “This first group here (Bluegrass Blondies), I heard them twice yesterday and I really like them.”

Andersen said people come from all over for the festival.

“It must be a good destination,” she said. “Yesterday I talked with someone who drove from Rochester, Minnesota, to be here.”

Don Eldridge, of Jolley, said it’s an opportunity to get out and about.

“It’s just a good weekend to get away from home,” he said.

Don Eldridge’s wife, Bonnie Eldridge, said the organizers of the event make it easy for them to camp out.

“They helped us set up,” Bonnie Eldridge said. “With Don’s health, we can’t go everywhere anymore. They make it easy for us to get around and enjoy the music.”

Nicole Hanson and her husband, Ash Hanson, of Stratford, were enjoying the festival for the first time.

“This is our first year,” Nicole Hanson said. “It sounded like something fun to do in our community.”

The couple came for the community church service, but stayed for the music.

“Next time we will have to stay for the whole weekend,” she said.