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Groom your beard, bust out the patchwork and take a big swig from that jug. The Humboldt Folklife Society is taking you from dustbowl dirges to thigh-slapping jigs all week.

The Humboldt Folklife Festival kicks off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 11 at the Mad River Brewery with the Spindrifters and Clean Livin', followed by a homey potluck at the Logger Bar (free). In fact, if you're not ready to call it a night, after-party good times are to be had at the Logger Bar each night of the banjo bonanza.

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Annie and Mary Day takes over Perigot Park on Sunday, July 12 at 11 a.m. with a parade of dancers, masks and enormous puppets, as well as fire trucks, food vendors, a petting zoo and bocce ball (free). The musical lineup starts at noon with the Timber Ridge Boys and winds up with the Delta Nationals.

Head for the Carlo Theater for Songwriters Night on Monday, July 13 at 7 p.m. ($7, $5 members), and Jazz Night on Tuesday, July 14 at 7 p.m. ($7, $5 members). You can sway to Absynth Quartet on Wednesday, July 15 at 5:30 p.m., Dell'Arte's Big Top Tent and see the illusive Huckleberry Flint play the amphitheater on Thursday, July 16 at 5:30 p.m. ($10, $8 members).

That should warm you up for the barn dance next Friday, July 17 ($7, $6) and the fiddle-geddon of the All Day Free Festival on Saturday, July 18. Check out the insert in this week's paper for the full lineup.