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Hiawatha Music Co-op to mark 39th festival

A musical group performs at the 2016 Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival at Marquette’s Tourist Park. The 39th annual gathering is set for this coming weekend. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — Each July since 1984, the Hiawatha Music Co-op has invited musicians, families and guests from near and far to come to Tourist Park in Marquette for a weekend of traditional music and arts, concerts, workshops and informal jam sessions.

They call this the Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival.

In the past 39 years, families have grown, children have grown, babies have come and now one will find many campsites with three and even four generations of family members, passing on the love of American traditional music, according to a release from the Hiawatha Music Co-op.

The mission of HMC is to promote, provide, educate, and inform the public and encourage participation in traditional forms of music, dance, and arts. During the past 39 years, HMC has brought nearly 5,000 performers from all around the world and country to the festival and local events.

This year’s music promises to once again please everyone with local, regional, national musicians and world traveling musicians. The main stage on Saturday and Sunday will feature music from The Barley Jacks, John Gillette and Sarah Mittelfelhdt, Sones de Mexico, The Sweetwater Warblers, Pert Near Sandstone, The Cactus Blossoms, The Bucking Mules, Jayme Stone’s Folklife, Dan Newton and the Cafe Accordion Orchestra, and All Strings Considered.

The Friday-night dance starting at 6:30 p.m. will feature All Strings Considered, Dan Newton and the Cafe Accordion Orchestra and The Bucking Mules.

Throughout the weekend, most main stage performers, as well as local and regional musicians, will present small workshops each day on Saturday and Sunday.

In the Teen Scene, Hiawatha’s teens ages 13-17 will enjoy dance and workshop appearances by Chris Crown and Black Jake and the Carnies. Both bands will be featured at the Saturday night “Teen-only” dance. Crafts and other activities designed for teens will also be featured.

New to the Festival this year will be a “Tween Tent” for youth ages 9-12 with activities and music tailored to their interests. The youngest festival-goers will enjoy a busy lineup in the Children’s Area, with child-friendly crafts and activities, including the return of Papa Crow, Lake Effect, Randy Kaplan, Luunappi, Ron and Jan Fowler and Frank Youngman.

A highlight of the weekend is the Sunday afternoon Children’s Parade with instruments made at the Children’s Area during the weekend, led by Frank Youngman. The Tourist Park beach is open during the day with city lifeguards for families to enjoy as well.

Another festival tradition is the Artists-in-the-Round art and craft show and sale. As always, this years artisans will offer an assortment of traditional homemade wares. The festival will also feature a Young Artists Corner that will feature juried craft show and sale on Saturday afternoon.

A variety of local food vendors will also be on hand to provide hearty breakfast, lunch and dinner fare as well as snacks and beverages.

Camping is available to those wishing to stay on the festival grounds. On site parking passes are available for purchase for people who are camping. On site parking is also available for those who need special accommodations and off site parking is available at no cost.

A horse drawn shuttle is also available at no cost from the free parking area to festival grounds. There is also a shuttle with a trailer at no cost from the free parking area to the Festival camping area.

To learn more about camping and the festival, visit the Hiawatha Music Co-op website at www.hiawathamusic.org. or call 906-226-8575.

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