Local favorites Carson Peters & Iron Mountain will headline the opening night performance for this year’s Covered Bridge Celebration.

Thursday night’s entertainment will feature the Trailblazer Cloggers from 6-6:30 p.m. followed by Carson Peters & Iron Mountain from 7-8 p.m.

Both performances will take place on the stage in Covered Bridge Park.

Carson Peters began playing the fiddle at the ripe old age of 3 when his parents bought him a 1/8 size fiddle. By the age of 4, he was playing in fiddle competitions and jamming at music festivals. Since then Carson has continued to hone his fiddling and singing talents, which he attributes to being a gift from God, and has won many competitions along the way.

At 12 years old, Carson is a seasoned performer, playing in numerous venues with his band throughout the region including many festivals. He has also performed at the Grand Ol’ Opry, the Carter Family Fold, the World Class Bluegrass concert and has played on the national television shows The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Little Big Shots with Steve Harvey.

Backing up Carson in Iron Mountain is his father Jamie Peters along with Eric Marshall, Ben Marshall, and Austin Tate.

Eric Marshall, of Mt. Airy, N.C., has been playing banjo for two decades. He started playing banjo in his early 20s with his brother in The Marshall Brothers and Highroad Band. He has worn many hats with bands over the years but is best known as a traditional style banjo player, vocalist, and songwriter.

Ben Marshall went to his first bluegrass festival at 18 months old and grew up with his father Eric Marshall’s music. Ben began playing music at 8 years old and worked to develop his singing and playing skills. Now at the age of 15, Ben plays bass and sings as a member of Iron Mountain.

Rounding out the group is 17-year-old Austin Tate of Marion, Va., who sings and plays the mandolin. He began his music career at the age of 8, and his taste in music ranges from bluegrass and gospel to old country and classic rock. Over the years he has played music at many events and had the opportunity to play with some amazing bluegrass artists, including the ‘Queen of Bluegrass,’ Rhonda Vincent.