RICHMOND -- Fans of bluegrass music should have a fun weekend as a three-day festival kicks off tonight (Friday) at El Rancho Manana.

The Minnesota Homegrown Kickoff features three days of camping, vendors, and performances from over 20 bands from around the Upper Midwest.

This will be the 14th year the festival will be held at El Rancho Manana and Adeline Boucher has been involved every year.

"It's definitely a destination for bluegrass fans," Boucher says. "One year, they invited everybody to bring a banjo and come up on stage -- and my gosh, there were a lot of banjos."

"There are [also] little gathering places where you can learn an instrument, and vendors selling instruments and accessories."

Boucher says the environment at El Rancho Manana makes for a relaxing time to enjoy the festival.

"It's just a nice area, you don't see or hear any traffic," Boucher says. "Bring your lawnchair, sit down and enjoy...[or] go for a walk down to the beach."

Those who buy weekend passes are allowed to camp on the grounds for the weekend and enjoy the campground's facilities and miles of trails.

The festival starts tonight -- rain or shine -- at 6:00 p.m. at 27302 Ranch Road in Richmond with weekend passes starting at $60 at the gate.

If you can't make it this weekend, Boucher says they have more planned for this summer.

"This is just the kickoff," Boucher says. "The second week in August we'll have the big [festival]."

Photo Courtesy of MN Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association
Photo Courtesy of MN Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association
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Festival Schedule:
FRIDAY: 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
SATURDAY: Noon to 11:00 p.m.
SUNDAY: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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