Get ready to dance and sing along at Lopez Community Center’s outdoor stage. On Saturday Aug. 11, from 5 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. there will be three great bands performing, including top local talent and a Bellingham favorite. Everyone is invited to this Family Dance Party!

Opening the Festival is Lopez Island’s own: The Shark Reef Rounders. This acoustic instrument band plays foot stomping Americana and Irish music. The musicians are Nick Teague on ukulele and vocals, Susie Teague on bass and vocals, Lance Brittain on mandolin and vocals, Bill Johnson on guitar and vocals and Kenny Ferrugiaro on vocals and percussion. Plan to enjoy fun, upbeat, old-time music.

The second act is also from Lopez Island: The Lopez Cajun Band. They feature a mix of Traditional Cajun, Zydeco, Tex Mex, and Country Blues. The vocal stylings of Kelsey Nelsen on guitar, Sam Bernardi on vocals and accordion, Lance Brittain on back-up vocals and mandolin, Danny Gilbreath on bass, Calvin Lovendosky and Hawk Arps on percussion. Get ready for toe tapping rhythms that will put a smile on your face and a bounce in your boogie woogie.

Headlining the Festival is a favorite dance band from Bellingham: The Atlantics. They know how to make good things happen by carrying on the tradition of great Northwest dance bands. They offer some of the best, most infectious popular dance music of the last 60 years. On any given evening crowds may hear music from Ray Charles, James Brown, to the Beatles and more current hits by Santana, Robert Cray and John Hiatt. This diversity has a common theme: dance-ability and fun! Their instruments include keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, sax, flute and four vocalists. The Atlantics have performed with John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Burnett, Chubby Checker, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and played the Islander Resort regularly in the ‘80s. The keyboardist was married at Shark Reef. We welcome them back to Lopez Island!

Bring a chair and warm clothing for this fabulous event at the Pavilion. For your dining pleasure, you are invited to partake of the food vendors and Beer Garden on site. El Taco Bout It is serving fresh tacos from their truck and young entrepreneur, Noah from the Edenwild Inn is serving up hot dogs and ice cream. Tickets are Adults $15, youth 6-17 years old $5, 5-years-old and under are free! Tickets are available online at lopezcenter.org. Available also from: Lopez Center Office, Paper Scissors on the Rock, Lopez Book Shop, and at the door. We will see you there!