Bluegrass Music Festival Tuning-Up For 35th Annual Event [AUDIO]

RICHMOND - Thousands of people will be heading to a farm field north of Richmond this week. The 35th annual "Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival" is at the El Rancho Manana Campground this Thursday through Sunday.

Spokesman Jed Malischke says the four-day event has been recognized several times by groups in Nashville...

Twenty-one bands will be playing on the main stage.

Malischke says the event is meant to be interactive with the musicians and the festival goers...

And, new this year, is the Underground stage, which will feature a little more modern music.

A lot of people that attend are amateur musicians, who bring their instruments and join-in on impromptu jam sessions.

Over 4,000 people are expected to attend the event, some have already started arriving, even though the festival doesn't officially kick-off until Thursday.

Festival goers can buy day passes, or a ticket for the whole weekend.