The Mountain Dance and Folk Festival is back in August to preserve Southern Appalachian culture. The festival is in its 96th year, and its sister event, Shindig on the Green, is in its 57th year.

Here's all you need to know to take part:

Swing by the show

The Mountain Dance and Folk Festival takes place at 7 p.m. August 3-5 at UNC Asheville's Lipinsky Hall. And it might not be what you think of when you hear the word "festival" — there's no wandering to various stages with simultaneous performers. This festival is a beautifully curated live performance on a single stage, although you will be treated to a different show every night.

Enjoy a little bluegrass, storytelling, and even clogging (anyone up for a new hobby?) during a show that embodies the spirit of the region — and reflects the struggle that birthed its culture. And if you want to see how the arts are being passed on to the next generation, stop by early on Saturday for the free youth talent celebration. Find tickets for the festival.

Gather on the green

If three nights of dance, music, and stories aren't enough for you, you're in luck. The Folk Heritage Committee also hosts Shindig on the Green this Saturday, July 22 + August 12, 19, and 26. "Along about sundown" (aka ~7 p.m.), friends, family, and instruments will come together for jam sessions and a show in Pack Square Park — on a stage named after Bascom Lamar Lunsford, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival's founder. Entrance is free.