Paul Johnston will be bringing clothespins to this year’s Celebration.

Johnston, director of Eastern’s Jazz Lab band, will be involved in his second Celebration festival with the band and learned last year that the wind can wreak havoc with a performance.

“We have to remember to bring clothespins so the music doesn’t blow away,” he said.

Besides the array of music, there will also be over 50 different artisans.

About seven hours each day are dedicated to the music.

“We’re excited to be involved,” Johnston said. “It’s an exciting atmosphere to play in.”

The three day “Celebration: A Festival of Arts” will start Friday, allowing people of all ages access to entertainment through music and the works of many artisans.

This will be the 29th annual festival, which began in 1977.

“It’s satisfying to put this (together) for eight to ten thousands of people,” said Dan Crews, director of the festival, referencing the large crowds it generally attracts.

The event started when a dean at Eastern wanted to revitalize Chautauqua, a tradition of bringing education and music together in local festivals.

After the ideas came to life, the event became an annual tradition for Eastern.

“It slid into being a variety of events,” Crews said.

The annual event will once again continue its tradition of bringing the different arts together at Eastern and to celebrate the end of the year.

“(Students) spent a long semester in their dorms,” Crews said. “This is a way for them to let their hair down and enjoy the weekend.”

An outside stage will be the location of almost every style of music represented throughout the weekend.

Visitors will see examples of several genres, including rock, jazz, classical and folk.

However, with only three days, the festival cannot feature all music styles.

“We don’t have reggae or blues every year,” Crews said. “We don’t have enough time to have all (styles).”

The artisans will sell a variety of arts that include paintings, jewelry and pottery.

There will be demonstrations as well, some of which are by a blacksmith and a gourd carver.

Crews said 60 to 70 percent of the artisans and musicians are from past years and about 30 percent are new.

The festival’s Saturday and Sunday are days dedicated to children, who can participate in the many art activities sponsored by the Tarble Arts Center.

They will be able to prepare “make it and take it” projects like paper masks, said Michael Watts, director of the Tarble Arts Center.

“We think it’s a good part (for children),” he said. “It does bring attention to the arts and to Tarble and to Eastern, which is good.”

The festival will begin at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday and at 11 a.m. on Sunday.