MARQUETTE — A week after Harbor Fest came and went, another annual festival is gearing up for more than a weekends worth of fun at Mattson Lower Harbor Park.

Beginning Friday, the Marquette Area Blues Fest is back for its 13th year. The three–day music festival will bring performers and artists from all over the country to Marquette.

Volunteers were at the park throughout Thursday getting the place ready to go. According to festival director Walt Lindala, volunteers play a vital part in putting on Blues Fest.

“I’ve got to tell you, it’s kind of sometimes a cheesy slogan, but it’s the truth– teamwork makes the dream work,” said Lindala about the volunteers for the festival. “We’ve got an army of volunteers coming together to make this happen this weekend. We can’t thank them enough. We’re still looking for more, so if people want to help out we’re here all weekend.”

This year’s Blues Fest features a couple of up and coming artists in the business, top names like Victor Wainwright and Samantha Fish.

“They’re going to be our headliners through the course of the weekend,” said Lindala. “And that’s really cool because a lot of times with this music, it has to evolve in order for it to survive and we are going to showcase some of the artists doing that these days.”

Blues Fest kicks off Friday night with a free show open to the public at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $30 a day for adults and $50 for the weekend.

Gates open at noon Saturday and Sunday.

For more information about Blues Fest, click HERE.