Wakarusa Bluegrass Festival Inc. – the only bluegrass festival in Elkhart County – will celebrate its ninth year Friday-Sunday, June 7-9.

Free primitive camping and parking, handicap accessible and attendees are invited to bring a lawn chair. The festival is honoring Clyde Carr and the HYMN TYMERS bluegrass gospel band making music in the Michiana area for over 40 years.

Events start on Friday with a mountain dulcimer workshop (2:30 p.m. -4 p.m.),  a yodeling workshop (4:15 p.m.-5:45 pm), and a free open mic bluegrass jam at 6 pm.

The stage show on Saturday features six acts, presenting a diverse collection of bluegrass music: traditional, contemporary, yodeling, gospel and an award-winning sibling group from Southwest Missouri. Bands are Volume Five, Tommy Webb, Lilly Mountaineers, Kerry Christensen, Meyer Bluegrass and Rock Island Plow Company.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. Gate tickets are $15; veterans with military ID and children 12 and under are admitted free. Veterans will be honored mid-afternoon.  Food and beverage vendors are on hand with good eats.

Sunday morning starts at 10 a.m. with a bluegrass gospel service, pot-luck lunch at noon and jamming in the afternoon. No admission is charged on Sunday.