Photo by Ryan Carollo
This year’s New England Folk Festival (April 24-26 at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School) offers well over 200 dance and music events during a marathon 25 hours. The majority—like English and Scottish country dances, Italian tavern tunes, and Yiddish songs—are participatory. All ages are welcome, and no expertise is required, says Janet Yeracaris, president of the nonprofit New England Folk Festival Association. “The main aim is to actively preserve living folk traditions and culture, bringing people together to build a shared sense of community through them.”