Rick Rose, a Wheatland volunteer of 18 years, said he enjoys the festival and has always volunteered in the raffle booth.

“I like the idea that all the proceeds from this raffle stay with the Wheatland Music Organization,” he said.

With its Bluegrass and Cajun roots, Wheatland is most well known for its diverse selection of music. More than 1,000 musicians and bands performed at the festival this year across the three stages on the festival grounds.

This weekend more than 1,000 volunteers came together to put on the festival.

East Lansing resident Greg Ruetenik, 20, demonstrates his juggling Sunday afternoon while volunteering at the Middle Ground teen area. (Perry Fish/Staff Photographer)

The festival began in 1973 as a small gathering of musical performers, artisans and festival supporters alike.

Brenda Ritter, a member of the WMO board of directors and a Wheatland volunteer for over 30 years, said most of the money raised through Wheatland goes toward school programs and scholarships that benefit musical education, as well as improving and promoting the festival.

“We wear a lot of tie-dye, but we are so family oriented that we try to keep the family part into it and carry on the traditional arts and crafts,” Ritter said. “That’s what we are here for.”

One of the many groups to perform at the festival was Slide (Ireland) a traditional Irish band. Daire Bracken, an Irish native and fiddle player of the group, said there are a number of things he enjoys about performing at Wheatland.

“When you are playing they go crazy,” Bracken said. “It’s just such a great feedback.”

Among many in attendance was Central Michigan University alumnus Jacob Baire. He has attended the Wheatland Music Festival for the past three years and said his favorite part about Wheatland is the atmosphere and the community.

“Even with the rain yesterday, people were still happy,” Baire said. “People were still taking in the experience, and that’s what Wheatland is, it’s an experience.”

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.