If you’re headed north on Highway 1 towards Kalona this weekend and you hear the faint sounds of a banjo, you don’t need to get your ears checked.

The 31st Annual Kalona Bluegrass Festival is happening July 14-16 at Windmill Ridge Campground. Camping and food will be enjoyed throughout the weekend, but organizer Paul Roberts stresses what’s important, “The reason we have it is the music. And we need to have camping and we need to have electricity and we need to have food and places. But the reason it happens is the people like the music.”

Most of the groups performing are from Iowa, and performances take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. on Sunday. There will also be “open mics” and workshops for bluegrass enthusiasts. Besides the work of the organizers, Roberts says the festival wouldn’t happen without its sponsors. For those who wish to attend Roberts says you can pay at the campground, and remember to bring a lawnchair.