Three days each year, thousands of people converge on a 160-acre farm off M-20 for one purpose—the Wheatland Music Festival.

The festival, which begins at 10 a.m. today, showcases a variety of music and arts.

Bands and musicians will be performing folk, bluegrass, Cajun, Celtic and western music and an array of artisans will offer everything from pottery to jewelry.

“The second stage is in the evening geared toward a younger crowd,” said Wheatland Music Organization Board Member Kim Croy.

She said many of the artists are well-known within their genres across the state.

Bruce Gartner, a member of Old-Time music band “Rhythm Billies,” said students are a steady crowd.

“When I started coming (in 1980), I was part of that demographic, there always seem to have been students,” he said.

Aside from music and arts, the festival is offering square, salsa and swing dance instruction.

“A lot of festivals wither out because they are so specific to a demographic, but Wheatland keeps refreshing,” Gartner said.

He said there is something for everyone at the festival, and even people in their eighties and nineties make the annual trip.

On Friday night, a dance is held and “you look out across a sea of faces and you think that half of these are student age,” Gartner said.

The festival seems to owe this turnout partially to its close proximity to two large universities.

“There have been lots of college-age students, from both Central and Ferris in the past,” Croy said.

This year marks 36 years of traditional entertaining. It has changed its location once, and was originally started to fund a food co-op by volunteers. The organization now operates as a non-profit and is run by year-round volunteers.

The farm is located at 7251 50th Ave., in Remus. Tickets are $75 by phone with a $3 service charge and $100 at the gates. Tickets for Sunday are $25 and can be purchased beginning 8 a.m. Sunday morning. Festivities conclude 8 p.m. Sunday.

E-mail the author: Blake Showers