Sunday, October 2, 2005

MEET THE FOLKERS.

The annual National Folk Festival, which has wandered between 28 locations over 66 years, settles in Richmond this year for Columbus Day weekend (Oct. 7-9 ). Old Dominion players get their due (with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the Whitetop Mountain Band and others). But there will also be Jamaican steel drums, the Malian kora (a harplike instrument), Mexican mariachi bands and other diasporic notes of the American soundtrack. The simultaneous marketplace offers artisans, demos, instrument makers, plus everything from corn husk dolls and fresh water pearls to pottery and Amish furniture.

Friday 6 to 10:30 p.m., Saturday noon to 10:30 p.m., Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Free. About 2 1/2 hours from the Beltway in downtown Richmond. 804-788-6466, http://www.nationalfolkfestival.com.

-- Anne McDonough