In celebration of the trapezoid-shaped stringed instrument, the Osceola County Fairgrounds in Evart will be hosting the annual Original Dulcimer Player’s Club Fanfest festival this weekend to commemorate musical history.

The three-day events, starting Thursday, include over 200 musical learning workshops for the dulcimer and other instruments like the fiddle, mandolin, and guitar. One of the featured events taking place is the Saturday Night Showcase Show, which will contain seven national champion dulcimer players performing in a star-studded concert. Other events throughout the weekend include open microphone sessions, specialty vendors, and various children’s activities like tie-dye and face painting.

“It’s the largest hammered dulcimer festival in the world,” Publicity chairman Scott Freeman said. “We have people that come from all over the world.”

The festival is in partnership with the Original Dulcimer Player’s Club, which was established all the way back in 1963 by hammered dulcimer players Elgia Hickok and Gene Cox. Through the revival of the instrument, the foundation of the first club in the United States was established. Hickok and Cox’s efforts were even documented in the Smithsonian publication, “The Hammered Dulcimer in America” by Nancy Groce.

“This area north of Grand Rapids is known as the mother church of the hammered dulcimer,” Freeman said. “The instrument almost died out here in the United States, but a group of young enthusiasts kept it alive.”

According to Freeman, the festival suits the top-level players and those simply interested in learning about the instrument.

“It’s real cheap and family friendly by design. If you just want to get exposed to the music or sit in on a workshop, you can. If you want to go a little deeper and get a test run on an instrument, there’s plenty of opportunities to do that. There’s multiple opportunities to engage in what we do.”

Admission for the festival is $7 per day or $15 for a full festival pass. Camping is available on site for $20 per night for RV or $17 per night for primitive campers.

Pets and non-electric personal instruments are allowed but alcohol is prohibited from the fairgrounds.