As we move toward the hectic summer festival season, there a quite few notable events taking place. Sing Out! provides an international listing of folk music festivals and camps, which can be found at https://www.singout.org/fests.html. But here’s a sampling of some upcoming events that are worth checking out:

In Texas, in the expansive Dallas Market Hall, the Dallas International Guitar Festival is taking place. This show claims to be the root of all other guitar festival around the globe, “the guitar show phenomenon actually began in Texas with the vision of Dallas guitar shop owner Charley Wirz.” If you’re interested in guitars and in the area, this is the place to be this weekend. The festival’s sponsorship includes nearly every guitar outlet under the sun, whether it be Gibson, Gretsch, Taylor, Guitar Center, or even The House of Blues. This event is “guitar heaven.” For more information, please visit: https://www.guitarshow.com/

In St. Louis, Tionól is the place to visit if you enjoy any type of Celtic tradition or want to learn more about it. It is a “weekend of sessions and workshops focusing on traditional Irish Music. The goal has always been to have a setting where musicians of all levels can get together, play music, and learn from each other.” All tickets are $20 and under including workshops. For more information, please go to: www.tionol.org

Also, another large festival starts this Saturday and goes all throughout this week. Since 1971, the Houston International Festival has been celebrating the cultures from around the world. Each year, the 501 (c)(3) approved non-profit festival chooses a different country or region to honor. In this year’s case, it’s Brazil. So if you’re looking to learn to experience a little bit of Brazillian tradition, this is the event to check out this weekend. For more information, please visit: http://ifest.org/

Here are some other events worth visiting this week:

4/16-21; STORY FUSION — Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, Pa.

4/18-21; OLD SETTLER’S MUSIC FESTIVAL — Saly Lick BBQ Pavilion, Austin, Tex.

4/19-20; PITTSBURGH FOLK FEST — David L. Lawrence Convention Ctr, Pittsburgh, Pa.

4/19-21; LOCH NORMAN HIGHLAND GAMES — Rural Hill Farm, Huntersville, N.C.

4/19-21; THE NEW ENGLAND FOLK FESTIVALS — Mansfield, MA High and Middle Schools.

4/20-21; BEAR ON THE SQUARE MOUNTAIN FEST — Public Square, Dahlonega, Ga.

Check out some pictures from last week’s festivals!

Super Chikan at the Juke Joint Festival. (taken by Instagram user @jazzytraveller) Morgan Freeman (who owns Ground Zero Blues Club) also made an appearance (from Instagram user @andwelecoore) French Quarter Festival in NOLA fest-goers were greeted by a fiddlin’ werewolf (from Instagram user @mrmarroy) The Juneau Pride Chorus at the Alaska Folk Festival (From Instagram user @tawdr)

— Jesse McHugh