FERDINAND — Musicians will assemble Saturday for a day of good music, good food and good company when the town’s ninth annual Folk Festival takes center stage at Ferdinand’s 18th Street Park. Tunes will fill the park from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The Folk Festival is an earth-friendly, family-friendly event that promotes music, art, and environmental awareness, and offers extensive educational activities for children and all ages. The festival’s primary mission is to promote — through music, art, and environmental education — the health and wellness of community.

Chris James, Ferdinand’s town manager, said the fest has grown “significantly” over the past nine years. He estimated 8,000 will attend the event.

This time around, 22 bands and solo artists will perform on two stages throughout the day.

Renowned folk singer Dar Williams — who, according to the festival’s website has been dubbed by Rolling Stone, Spin, and Paste magazines as one of America’s most influential singer-songwriters — will headline the event and kick off her 90-minute set at 7:30 p.m. on the festival’s main stage.

“She’s been in the business about 30 years, give or take,” James said. “And she plays these type of events all across the country, has quite a core following and folks who follow folk music are familiar with her.”

Other main stage acts include The Last Revel, a folksy bluegrass trio out of Minneapolis; and Appalatin, an Appalachian folk and high-energy Latin music band. Zion, an Evansville-based roots reggae performer, will also bring his own twist to the event.

“There are so many subgenres of folk,” James said. “Where it’s not just Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger folk music. Country folk. Folk rock. There’s all kinds of branches of the same tree.”

Musicians are scouted out and invited to the festival by a team of volunteers.

This year’s fest will also include activities for children such as a big bounce house on the nearby softball field, interactive storytelling and an animal petting station. The Tent Talks are back as well, and will tackle subjects like the benefits of beekeeping and local honey, discovering and understanding the benefits of hemp products, and a no-coal-to-diesel discussion about the proposed coal-to-diesel refinery for Dale.

“The Folk Fest is special because it’s family-friendly and it’s environmentally-friendly,” James said. “We try to tout music, art, environment.”

The music schedule and a full list of the day’s events can be found below.