Get ready for a big musical party at the Old Town School of Folk Music Saturday, Aug. 21. The musical scene icon, around since 1957, is throwing open its doors to let families sample the fare it offers all year long.

“It’s a great way for the kids to have interaction with other kids,” says Nick Macri, Old Town’s concerts and events marketing manager, about getting involved in the classes. “Being exposed to music at such a young age, it’s pretty well known it is good for development. Plus it’s fun for the whole family.”

And at Old Town, located at 4544 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, it’s music and dance at your own pace in a family-friendly environment, he says.

The free open house is set from 5-10 p.m.

Here is the schedule for the music, dance and family fun classes:
Music classes

5-6 p.m.
Americana Ensemble with Skip Landt
Celebrating Tradition with Peggy Browning and Maura Lally
Sound of Music Sing-along with Robert Tenges and Shana Harvey

6-7 p.m.
Gillian Welch Ensemble with Rebecca Toon
Intro to the Banjo with Ed Tverdek
Intro to Harmonica with Skip Landt
Songbook Sing-along with Jimmy T. & Friends
Songs of Good Cheer Preview with Eric Zorn and Mary Schmich
Tin Pan Alley Music with Bau Graves
Write A Song in 60 Minutes with Charles Kim

6:30-8 p.m.
Chicago Folk Sing-along with Chris Farrell 6-String Social: Songs of Thanks with Joel Frankel
Beatles Ensemble with Charles Kim
Fiddle 101 with Maria McCullough
Guitar 101 with Steve Dawson and his Guitar 4ever students
Kani Ka Pila with Lanialoha Lee
Lucinda Williams Ensemble with Linda Smith
Old Time Ensemble with Paul Tyler
Vocal Tech 1 with Carol Kagy

8-9 p.m.
Black Gospel Choir with Kym Franklin-Koomson
Bluegrass Jam with Dave Bragman
Gram Parsons Ensemble with Tom Ryan
Near East Ensemble with Ronnie Malley and Wanees Zarour
Harmony Singing with Rita Ruby
Third Half with Scott Besaw
Women’s Rock with Shelley Miller
Voice of the People with Andrea Bunch

9-10 p.m.
That ’70s Class with John Mead and Cathy Norden
Steely Dan with Mark Vee
Dance classes
Most of these classes are 30 minutes

5 p.m.
Mini Hip Hop with Lyn Cole
Belly Dance with Erika Ochoa

5:30 p.m.
Family Tap with Lyn Cole
Jazz Dance with Nancy Teinowitz

6 p.m.
Kids Dance with Nancy Teinowitz
Mambo (60 minutes) with Saladeen Alamin

6:30 p.m.
Capoeira with Emily Conrath

7 p.m.
Hip-Hop with Boogie McClarin
Clogging with Barb Silverman

7:30 p.m.
Flamenco with Maya Tatiana
Square Dance (90 minutes)
Family fun

5 p.m.
Wiggleworms with Jarod Facknitz
Kids’ Music 101 with Eric Delli Bovi, Maria McCullough and Jason McInnes
Family Art Workshop with Beth Iska and Michael Clarke

6 p.m.
Wiggleworms with Jarod Facknitz
Family Improv with Jeremy Babcock
Family Art Workshop with Beth Iska and Michael Clarke