• Photo courtesy of Humboldt Folklife Society

Humboldt loves its folk music so much that we're surprised they haven't married yet. The Humboldt Folklife Society pays tribute to the folksier things in life every year with an entire week of twangy, acoustic folkiness. The Humboldt Folklife Festival runs through Saturday, July 19 with a different folky focus each night.

Thursday, July 17 is Outlaw Country Night at 5:30 p.m. in the Dell'Arte Amphitheater, with alternative country performances by Gunsafe, Cliff Dallas and the Death Valley Troubadours and Rooster McClintock ($10). Don't miss the after party at the Logger Bar with Decency taking the stage at 9 p.m. (free).

You can't celebrate folk without a good, old-fashioned hoedown. On Friday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Arcata Veteran's Hall, the Striped Pig Stringband Barn Dance ($7, $6 members) is a foot-stomping good time, regardless of your level of dance experience. Start the evening with a few quick lessons and then dance your way into the night.

Saturday, July 19 is the grand finale, with the All Day Free Festival. Bands take to two stages and play all day from 11 a.m. to after 7 p.m. The ampitheater stage features Lyndsey Battle, the Compost Mountain Boys, Absynth Quintet and more, while the Street stage is host to For Folk Sake, the Georgia Handshakers, Josephine Johnson and many others. Then comes the icing on the cake, with the reunion of Humboldt favorite Que La Chinga at the after party at the Logger Bar at 9 p.m. (free). What the folk are you waiting for? Head over to the Folklife Society website and get your tickets for a full, folkin' week of folkin' awesome performances.