By LISA HOOVER

MADRID -- The 23rd annual Madrid Bluegrass River Festival will be held June 28 through June 30, with more than a dozen bluegrass groups to perform throughout the weekend.

Other weekend events will include the “Bluegrass Ramble” 5k, a kid’s fishing derby and fireworks.

The Bluegrass Ramble features a 5k, 10k and half marathon.

Fireworks will be set off June 29 at 10 p.m., after live entertainment and door prizes.

This year’s entertainment is designed to be more family friendly. “We always have the fishing derby,” said festival organizer Les Haas, “but a lot of bluegrass festivals don’t do this. If we don’t get kids involved, bluegrass will die.” New children’s events will include face painting and a clown.

The event has been known to draw attendees from as far away as Oregon and Texas. “We had people from Texas that came for years,” Haas said. About 1,000 people typically show up over the course of the festival weekend, he said.

Barb Heller will emcee, with bluegrass music and dance starting at 3 p.m. Friday for $8; from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday for $18 and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $12.

Full weekend admission will be $32 for adults, with children under 12 free if accompanied by an adult. Rough camping will be available for $8 per night.

Possum Haw and Nu Blue are both new acts this year, according to Haas. Nu Blu “hasn’t been in this area, that I know of,” Haas said.

Friday’s music will include an open stage segment at 1 p.m., Pat Ashley at 2 p.m., Spare Change at 3 p.m., Lake Effect Bluegrass at 4 p.m., Generation Gap at 5 p.m., Old Barn Boys at 6 p.m., Possum Haw at 7 p.m., the Atkinson Family at 8 p.m. and a dance with Generation Gap at 9 p.m.

Saturday’s events will include the ramble races at 8 a.m., Lake Effect Bluegrass at 9 a.m., Spare Change at 10 a.m., the Atkinson Family at 11 a.m. and Possum Haw at noon. Afternoon events will include a mandolin workshop at 1 p.m., Lake Effect Bluegrass at 1 p.m., Pat Ashley at 2 p.m., a banjo workshop at 3 p.m., Bear Tracks at 3 p.m., Nu Blu at 4 p.m., the Atkinson Family at 5 p.m., a dobro workshop at 6 p.m. and Old Barn Boys at 6 p.m. Other highlights will include Possum Haw at 7 p.m., a “better sounds for your band” workshop at 7 p.m., Bear Tracks at 8 p.m., Nu Blu at 9 p.m., door prizes at 10 p.m. and firework at 10:15 p.m.

Sunday will include the Madrid Gospel group at 10 a.m., Spare Change at 11 a.m., Pat Ashley at noon, Bear Tracks at 1 p.m., Old Barn Boys at 2 p.m. and Nu Blu at 3 p.m.

Crafters, door prizes and concessions will also be featured. Chainsaw carving, a chicken barbeque, an ice cream social, an “all you can eat spaghetti feed” and an all you can eat breakfast will also be offered.

For more information, or to sign up for open stage times, visit madridbluegrassriverfestival.com/ or call Les or Susan Haas at 322-4093.