ALPENA — Music for all moods, seasons and people of all ages will fill the air this weekend at the 6th Annual Thunder Bay Folk Festival at the Antique Tractor Grounds, 6850 French Rd., Alpena.

Thunder Bay Folk Society President Bonnie Bartz expects 700 to 800 people to attend the festival, which starts today.

“People come from all over the state,” Bartz said. “The same people who go to Blissfest, Wheatland, and Hiawatha up in the U.P. A lot of people enjoy doing these festivals all summer long, and we’re the last one of the season, so they come to get one last festival in.”

She said the weather looks good this year, which is better than last year, when it rained the whole weekend. Attendance has still increased each year.

“It’s been growing,” she said.

Gates open at noon and music starts at 5 p.m. with these mainstage performers: At 5 p.m. is The Randy Bouchard Band, followed at 6:30 p.m. by Nina and The Buffalo Riders, at 8 p.m. by Dede and The Dreamers, at 9:30 p.m. by Chris Crown and The Get Down Band, and Black Jake and The Carnies from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Thunder Bay Folk Fest continues Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. Mainstage performers include Jo Serrapere and John DeVine from noon to 1 p.m., Annie and Rod Capps from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., May Erlewine Trio from 3 to 4 p.m., The Hackwells from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Polka Riot from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Rootstand from 8 to 9:30 p.m., and Radio Free Honduras from 10 to 11:30 p.m.

“May Erlewine is from the Lake City area,” Bartz said. “She’s a pretty well-known recording artist. She’s friends with Josh Davis.”

“Radio Free Honduras is from Chicago, and they play Latino music,” Bartz said.

“Our definition of folk music is, it’s the music of the people. It’s music that tells a story about different cultures.”

She said Brant Losinski is from Alpena and plays in the band Rootstand.

Other Saturday performers include: Jim Ewell, Russ Franzen, Steve and Brenda, Annie and The Tree Guy, Great Lakes Effect, Wolf Creek Release, Blood Money Men, Kevin Ballmer, Jona Hauff, Randy Bouchard and Chris Yachik, J.W. Thomas, Jim Bartz, Al Gross, and Drum Kiva.

The fun doesn’t end on Saturday, though, as Kim Casey Trio will perform Sunday morning to conclude the festival.

In addition to 28 performers, there will be concessions, craft vendors, workshops, yoga and pilates classes in the Mind/Body Tent, jam sessions, sound baths, and an Optimist Youth Oasis, which is an entertaining space for children of all ages.

“We try to make this a family-friendly event,” Bartz said.

She said they started the Mind/Body Tent last year.

“It’s just been a huge success, and it’s all included in your ticket price,” she said.

Also included are line-dancing classes with Anna Lewis, banjo and fiddle lessons with Scott Barnum, drumming workshops with Paul Conger (bring a drum if you have one), guitar lessons with Kevin Ballmer, an improv class with Creative Chaos Comedy’s Tim and Mia Hauff, ukulele lessons with Julie Sherlock, viola da gamba with Ian McConnell, songwriting with Annie Capps, history of the blues with Chris Crown, fun with instruments and song for kids 3 to 6 with Sherlock, decorative tiles with Ann Kuehn, songwriting with Russ Franzen, children’s songs with Laura Frawley, fossils with Rod Olson, and hanging yarn with Andrea Schmidt.

Tickets are $55 at the gate per adult for the whole weekend. Anyone ages 15 and younger is admitted for free.

A Saturday-only pass is $30 per adult, and Saturday night special is $15 after 7 p.m. Those who volunteer for four hours can enjoy the entire festival for free. To sign up, or for a full schedule of events, visit thunderbayfolkfest.org.

Camping is available for $20 per site. Attendees should bring their own chairs, and can bring their own food and beverages if desired.

Major sponsors of this year’s festival include the Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan, and Skyline Event Center in Comins, Mich.