For 23 years, tuba player Larry Zuk of Concord has delighted in entertaining New England audiences with old time New Orleans jazz music.

He's looking forward to playing with his New New Orleans Jazz Band Saturday at the New England Folk Festival at the Mansfield High School and Qualters Middle School complex. He's also looking forward to being an audience member at some of the dozens of music and dance concerts, workshops and jams covering everything from celtic folk tunes to English country dancing.

"The New England Festival is a great place because it attracts thousands of spectators and you get to see and hear a great variety of folk music and dancing," said Zuk, who recently celebrated his band's 23rd anniversary. Zuk and his band will be performing Saturday afternoon; the rest of the time, he said, he'll be visiting with fellow musicians and enjoying the other bands and dancers.

Zuk and his seven-member band are just one of dozens of attractions at New England's longest-running folk festival, Friday through Saturday, which moved to Mansfield this year after a long run in Natick. The three-day run will include everything from contra dances to the banjo demonstrations and even a presentation of science fiction-inspired music.

Unlike many star-studded festivals that draw attendance based on big names, the New England Folk Festival is an Everyman sort of affair which relies on variety, high level amateur and professional talent and audience participation. And the entertainment lasts from early morning to well after dark. "The festival isn't like other festivals in that nobody gets paid," said clawhammer banjo player Bob Solosko who is giving a workshop this year on his southern-inspired style of playing. "We're all here because we love the music and dancing."

Audience participation is big at the folk festival says Solosko, who sits on the festival's board of directors.

"Sure there are lots of concerts and performances," said Solosko. "But there are also dances where you can participate, workshops where you can learn new things, and jams where musicians can get together to share the music."

Solosko plays a melodic type of banjo music that stems from the melodies of the old south. But Solosko blends it with dance music, Irish jogs and even French hurdy gurdy music. His presentation this year will dig into his "clawhammer tool kit" to help other banjo players acquire techniques they can apply to their own music.

Although not as well known as the Newport Folk Festival, the New England Folk Festival has a rich heritage.

The 62-year-old event was launched over a wartime conversation following a 1944 square dance at the Boston YWCA. The immense popularity of the dances convinced the YWCA's Grace Palmer and Mary Gillette as well as well-known square dance caller Ralph Page to call for the establishment of a folk festival. The festival began at the YWCA, but has moved several times since. The New England Folk Festival Association also runs weekly Thursday night contra dances and stages a winter dance festival called the Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend.

The homegrown music and culture festival attracts dancers, musicians and spectators from throughout the U.S. and Canada. There are also numerous food booths, a crafts and hands-on activities for children and their parents.

Lissa Story isn't one of the regular performers at the folk festival, but that hasn't stopped her from coming just about every year since the 1980s.

"It's really a smorgasbord of music and dancing," she said. "And there's a lot of spontaneity. You can go here or there or out into the hallways and find some musicians jamming in a corner."

Story learned about International dancing in college and has become a lifelong devotee of the art. She regularly participates in folk dances held at the festival.

The New England Folk Festival will be open 7-11 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission prices to each of the four sessions - Friday, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon and Sunday - vary from $15 to $20 with discounts for children and seniors.

An admission ticket for the entire weekend is $65 for adults. Tickets are sold at the door. For the first year, Mansfield residents with identification will be able to purchase tickets for half price.

For more information about the New England Folk Festival, visit www.neffa.org.