This weekend, Mystic Seaport is the port of call for the Sea Music Festival – and this year’s event is the 30th annual gathering. Each year, over 5000 people show up in Mystic to attend a highly entertaining and educational festival that is held on the grounds of Mystic Seaport. I can’t think of any other festival that draws its audience so close to the source to share folk music.

Mystic also includes a two-day symposium during the festival. The symposium, held this year at the U.S. Coast Guard auditorium, features presentations in history, folklore, literature and music that celebrate the golden age of sail.

There are performers from all ponits of the globe who attend and perform at the festival. This year, be sure to check out Danny Spooner, a folksinger from Australia; Dick Holdstock & Allan MacLeod from England and Scotland; Les Bouthilliers from Quebec and Nanne Kalma and The Hudson Crew from the Netherlands. Also appearing will be the Clancy Legacy – Robbie, Donal and Aoife Clancy; Jeff Warner who is the son of folk song collectors Frank and Anne Warner and our good friend Rick Nestler.

In addition, Phil and Martin Hugill, sons of the legendary shanty man Stan Hugill, will perform. They carry on the work of their father, whose collections of sea songs have become valuable resources for the tradition.

The forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies and a chance of a thunderstorm or two during the weekened – but the covered tents will provide shelther for all the hardy souls that are looking for a unique opportunity to experience an all-star gathering of sea music. For more information visit their website at www.mysticseaport.org