With the Folk Festival just around the corner, Salisbury is busy preparing for its inaugural year of hosting. Here's what you need to know about the three-day event.

The Folk Festival is a traveling festival hosted by a new city every three years. In 1934, the National Council for Traditional Arts founded the festival in St. Louis. Salisbury will be the first Maryland city to host the event.

Festivities will start Friday night and continue throughout the weekend, with various music, dance and art performances on stages in downtown Salisbury from Route 50 to Route 13 and from Carroll Street to the Wicomico River.

More than 35 different groups are on this year's lineup for the Folk Festival, which will run from Sept. 7-9. All performances and events during the Folk Festival are free, although donations are welcome.

A family area and stage will feature traditional games, educational programs about history and animals, and interactive storytelling.

About two dozen food and drink vendors will be stationed throughout the festival area, offering a variety of regional and international cuisines. The festival will also have local craft beer and wine from Eastern Shore Distributing and Layton's Chance Vineyard and Winery. Baltimore's new Guinness facility will be represented at the festival as well.

Free parking for the Folk Festival will be available in multiple lots downtown. Satellite parking will also be available at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center, with a free shuttle running regularly throughout the event. For a complete parking map, visit https://www.nationalfolkfestival.com/parking-map.

If you go

What: The National Folk Festival

Where: Downtown Salisbury from Route 50 to Route 13 and Carroll Street to Wicomico River

When: Friday, Sept. 7 from 6-10:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 8 from noon to 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 9 from noon to 6:30 p.m.

Info: https://www.nationalfolkfestival.com/

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