WEEKEND BEST BET: 2010 Sarasota Folk Festival

You’ll need a folding chair, man’s best friend on a leash and perhaps an umbrella if the weather looks rainy.

The seventh annual Sarasota Folk Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 6, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 7, at Oscar Scherer State Park. Thirty musical acts will perform on three stages, and the festival also includes several music workshops and a “jam” area, so get your acoustic instrument in check and bring it along. Many performers will lead various jams throughout the two days, to include a protest jam, old-time jam, Florida folk jam and harmony jam.

This year, the festival also is going green and will feature eco-friendly vendors.

A special family stage with time slots designated to kid performances, a playground, kid-oriented games and crafts will be available. Workshops will also be offered so guests can get pointers on playing, singing harmony, songwriting and other topics.

Although the festival primarily includes acoustic folk music and singer/songwriter performers, guests will also hear bluegrass, acoustic blues, country, jazz, pop and Irish tunes.

Additional volunteers are welcome. Jobs, sign-up instructions, and tickets are available at www.sarasotafolkfestival.org. Tickets range from $15 to $40.

A complete list of performers and the schedule is available at www.sarasotafolkfestival.org.

Contact Loren Mayo at [email protected].