CUMBERLAND — The “Canal Place Live” program at CanalFest/RailFest is selling guaranteed seats at stage front for reserve-seat ticket buyers.

The Canal Place Preservation & Development Authority is marketing the CanalFest/RailFest 2009 event Friday through Sunday with VIP reserved seating in addition to the free festival-style lawn chair and blanket seating.

Nationally known progressive bluegrass-inspired acts include Cornmeal, Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band, The Bridge, and Missy Raines and The New Hip,

“Canal Place Live is the marketing platform for a thoughtfully planned new part of the authority’s work,” said authority executive director Renee Bone.

Bone said the future of the heritage area is envisioned to include a mix of events on the festival grounds including nonprofit and private sector events as well as the authority’s own ticketed entertainment programming.

Reserved seating can be purchased in advance at local ticket outlets including Life Fitness Management in LaVale, Crabby Pig Restaurant and The Book Center in Cumberland, Earth Zone Nutrition Center in Short Gap and Keyser, and both Frostburg State University bookstores.

Seats not sold in advance can be purchased on the festival grounds on each event day.

Musical entertainment will include Hillbilly Gypsies and Cornmeal on Friday night; Erik Hanson, Bill Emerson and The Sweet Dixie Band and The Bridge on Saturday; and Vinegar Creek Constituency and Missy Raines and The New Hip on Sunday.

For more information about the 2009 CanalFest/RailFest, log on to www.canalplace.org or call (301) 724-3655.