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Wes Pettinger took over as the festival’s promoter in 2013 when the previous promoter, Jim Wilder, died. Pettinger, who grew up playing the banjo and guitar with his father and has attended the festival for years, is excited to continue the festival’s legacy.

“I went to the second one in 1973,” Pettinger said. “My dad took me to it and that’s how I got involved with meeting other people who play music.”

In the past, bluegrass legends like Ralph Stanley, Bill Monroe and IIIrd Tyme Out (pronounced “third time out”) have performed at the festival.

This year’s lineup includes a mix of local and national talent, including Donna Ulisse, Joel Mabus, the Bluegrass Brothers, Out of the Blue and Harbourtown.

The Wildwood Valley Boys will kick off the festival on Thursday at noon. The band comprises seven members, including band leader Tony Holt. The band is named after Holt’s family farm in Milan, Ind.

Billy Strings & Don Julin will close out the show on Thursday. The Michigan-based American roots duo performs with only two instruments, guitar and mandolin, and one voice. Strings, a 22-year-old, tattoocovered guitarist and singer, met seasoned, 55-year-old mandolinist Don Julin a few years ago and they decided to team up. The duo will play songs from its latest album, “Fiddle Tune X.”

The festival’s Friday slate of music will conclude with a performance by Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. The band has nearly 40 albums under its belt and multiple Grammy nominations. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver are seven-time winners of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Vocal Group of the Year award.

Lonesome River Band will close out the festival on Saturday. The American contemporary bluegrass band was formed in 1982 and has released 15 albums. “Her Love Won’t Turn On A Dime,” from its latest album, has hit the top of the Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 Song Chart this month and has appeared seven times at No. 1 on Bluegrass Today’s Top 20 Song Chart.

Attendees can also participate in music workshops taught by some of the performers on topics such as learning how to write songs or how to play bluegrass instruments.

“We are trying to get the kids more involved,” Pettinger said. “We are trying to get an educational awareness of music.”

Activities for younger festivalgoers include a bounce house and corn mazes.

As the sun sets on each day of the festival, night owls are encouraged to gather around campfires for a popular tradition called “Parkin’ Lot Pickin’” where people bring their instruments and take turns sharing songs.

Charlotte Bluegrass Festival

Thursday, June 18- Saturday, June 20 $65 weekend pass or $20/ Thursday; $25/Friday or Saturday Eaton County Fairgrounds 1025 Cochran Ave., Charlotte (269) 832-5519, charlottebluegrassfestival.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17-20 >> WORLD REFUGEE AWARENESS WEEK EVENTS

The citywide celebration and recognition of unity between local communities and those who have traveled to our shores started on Sunday, but there are still plenty of events left to round out World Refugee Awareness Week. On Wednesday, Allen Street Market will hold its multi-ethnic food court, including a live performance from salsa band Orquesta Ritmo. Thursday, the Ingham County Department of Health and Human Services will unveil a new peace pole on its campus. Then on Friday, the downtown branch of the Capital Area District Library will have a screening of “The Good Lie,” which features a group of Sudanese refugees who find a home in Kansas City, Mo. Lastly, Hawk Island will host “Welcoming the Stranger,” a 5K family run/walk and opportunity to donate household items to help refugees. See the web for prices, times and locations. stvcc.org/eventscpt/wraw.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19-27 >> LANSING BEER WEEK

Grab your growlers and snag your steins because Paul Starr of I’m a Beer Hound and Steve Johnson of Motor City Brew Tours present a week — well, nine days, to be exact — of craft beer-themed events in their fourth annual Lansing Beer Week. The event takes participants to different locations each day, starting with Old Town’s Festival of the Moon and taking them across the city to places like the Beer Grotto, Eaglemonk Pub and Brewery, Hopcat and several more. Lansing Beer Week was established to help raise awareness of the craft beer industry and to promote local establishments. Check the web for a complete schedule of locations and times. imabeerhound.com.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 17-21 >> ‘THE TWO MUSKETEERS’ AT LCC

Theater All for one and one for… a couple? Lansing Community College begins PREVIEW its summer outdoor theatre series with a send-up of Alexadre Dumas’ swashbuckling classic in “The Two Musketeers.” In the play, an acting troupe has to nix one of its Musketeers in its production of “The Three Musketeers” due to budgetary constraints. Embracing the “the show must go on” spirit of theatre, the acting troupe barrels forward, carrying out its bargain bin production in high comedic fashion. 7 p.m. FREE. LCC Outdoor Amphitheatre (rain location: Dart Auditorium). 610 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing. lcc.edu/showinfo.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17-20 >> ‘THE BOOK OF LIZ’ & ‘AN ADULT EVENING WITH SHEL SILVERSTEIN’ AT SUMMER CIRCLE THEATRE

Theater MSU’s Summer Circle Theatre continues its series of outdoor performances in its new Summer Circle Courtyard with “The Book of Liz” and “An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein.” In “The Book of Liz,” Sister Mary Donderstock feels underappreciated and decides to live in the outside world, taking her illustrious homemade cheese balls with her — a product which sustains her religious community. The results only get weirder in this comedy written by David and Amy Sedaris. After Friday and Saturday’s performance of “The Book of Liz,” the company presents “An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein.” This show features 10 short plays that smack of the unique flavor of the seminal children’s poet — but are intended for mature audiences only. “Book of Liz” 7 p.m.; “An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein” Fri-Sat at approximately 10 p.m. FREE. MSU Summer Circle Courtyard, 542 Auditorium Road, East Lansing. theatre.msu.edu.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19 >> LOCAL GOODS MARKET

The Old Town General Store kicks off its new series of outdoor markets, the Local Goods Market, Friday. The market features several Michigan vendors set up in the courtyard behind the general store, offering a variety of unique, local products. The vendors will rotate for every event, and the first market will feature Trillium Wood Farm, Gluten Free Rox, Schneider´s Organic Meats, Valentine Blades, Seasons Bath and Body and more. 3-7 p.m. FREE. Old Town General Store, 408 E. Grand River, Lansing. (517) 487-6847, oldtown-generalstore.com.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19 >> ‘SMALL TOWN, BIG ENGINES’ CAR SHOW

Dimondale is closing off part of its downtown for an evening of classic automobiles with its “Small Town, Big Engines” event. Accompanying the display of classic automobiles will be live music provided by the Back Road Riders. Local area businesses are getting in on the event too, offering specials on all sorts of concessions like ice cream, pizza by the slice and free popcorn. Once the sun sets, guests are invited to set up some blankets and lawn chairs on the bank of the Grand River near the Bridge Street Bridge to enjoy a free community screening of the family-friendly Ben Stiller comedy, “A Night at the Museum.” 6-8 p.m. FREE. 136 N. Bridge St., downtown Dimondale. dimondale.org.