Vermont accordionist Rachel Bell and fiddler Becky Tracy are special guest performers at this Saturday’s DownEast Folk Festival in Topsham. They join more than 50 other folk musicians who will play for a full day of dance sessions, mini-concerts, workshops and other activities geared for the whole family. Submitted photo

Everything from fiddles and flutes to banjos and bones will rattle the rafters when the DownEast Folk Festival takes place beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, at Mount Ararat Middle School and the Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham.

This day-long celebration of traditional dance and music features an array of workshops, performances and jam sessions, wrapping up with a last waltz at 11:30 p.m. Nearly 20 bands are on deck to play for New England contra dancing as well as international folk dancing, waltzing, step dancing, Chinese folk dance, jitterbug, belly dance, song sessions, classes in fiddle and guitar techniques, and much more.

Admission to the full day of activities is $36 for adults with a reduced price of $27 for age 11-21. For those attending either just the daytime session (10 a.m.-6 p.m.) or the evening session (5-11:30 p.m.) the charge is $18/$13. Children age 10 and under will be admitted free. The event is sponsored by the DownEast Friends of the Folk Arts, and a full schedule of activities is available at their website at deffa.org/festival or via Facebook at facebook.com/DEFFAMaine.

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