ALPENA – Thunder Bay Folk Society hosts the annual Folk Fest each fall and it has become a popular event for those who play music and those who only enjoy watching a good band. A new event called Spring Fling is being introduced Saturday in Alpena and will provide musicians and music and art lovers a venue to showcase their talent.

Jeff Shea, who is a member of the folk society, said hosting another event is a way to generate revenue to the larger festival in September, but also an opportunity for everyone to showcase their talent and artistic creations.

There are 10 bands scheduled to perform beginning at 2 p.m. and wrapping up at 12 a.m. at the VFW on Connon Street. Shea said a slate of bands features some of the best musicians in the Alpena area and to have them all performing on the same stage in one day is something that shouldn’t be missed.

“Alpena has an immense amount of musical talent that a lot of people don’t get exposed to,” Shea said. “You may go out to a venue and see one of these bands, but here we will have 10, all in one day and it is going to be a great show.”

While the bands are playing there also will be a silent auction and a trash art competition where artists create photos or sculptures from trash. People in attendance will vote for the winner, who will win two tickets to this year’s festival. Shea said there also will be a raffle for an Epiphone guitar donated by Joel’s Guitar shop and vendors will have a flea marekt on VFW grounds showing off their arts and crafts.

Shea said since the society formed, there has been a large increase in the number of people wishing to join and participate in events. He said without the volunteers, events as large as Spring Fling and the Folk Festival, wouldn’t be possible.

“It has went crazy this year and people are coming in droves,” Shea said. “We have a nucleus of people who are willing to help, but we are always ready to welcome more.”

The cost of the event is $10 at the door and children 10 and under are free. It becomes an adults only event after 9 p.m.

There is a $5 entry fee for the trash art contest and raffle tickets for the guitar are $10 each, but only 100 will be sold.

For more information contact Nichola Cornelius at 590-0388.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews. Read his blog, Upon Further Review … at www.thealpenanews.com.