Shakori Hills, a bucolic tract of rolling land southwest of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, will come alive this weekend with music, dance, art, food and more.

More than 40 musical acts -- including featured acts the Del McCoury Band, Nnenna Freelon, Donna the Buffalo, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Eilieen Ivers and the Duhks -- will take the stage at the fifth annual fall Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance.

The festival goes on Thursday through Sunday.

Performers will do their thing on two big outdoor stages, a large dance tent, and a more intimate Cabaret Tent.

Del McCoury, born in Bakersville, leads one of the nation's best and best-known bluegrass bands. Regulars at the Grand Old Opry, the Del McCoury Band has also collaborated with non-bluegrass acts including Steve Earle and the jam band Phish.

The result is that McCoury and company -- which includes two of his sons -- have generated a huge fan base not only among traditional bluegrass lovers but also among tie-dyed "Del-Heads." The band is scheduled to play Saturday at 6 p.m. on the Meadow Stage.

Freelon, of Durham, is a jazz singer and composer who has been nominated for five Grammy Awards. She has performed just about everywhere -- Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy Center and so on -- and has worked with just about everybody: Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock, you name it. She'll go on Saturday at 8 p.m., shortly after McCoury wraps up.

Donna the Buffalo founded the Shakori Hills' predecessor and model, the Fingerlake Grassroots Festival, 18 years ago in Ithaca, N.Y. Followed by their fans -- collectively called the Herd -- they're still going strong. They're set to play all four days of the festival.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops, based in Durham, are a group of young musicians who keep alive the rich tradition of Piedmont old-time string music.

Eileen Ivers is among the most acclaimed Celtic fiddlers in the world; The New York Times called her "the Jimi Hendrix of the violin." To catch her, you'll have to go early; she's set to play Thursday night.

The Duhks, festival favorites from Minnetoba, Canada, blend bluegrass, folk rock, Afro-Cuban jazz and soul. They'll play Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

That's just for starters. Also on the schedule are acts including Bluegrass Experience, Des Ark, dub Addis, Jule Brown, Preston Frank, the Never, Toubab Krewe, Unknown Tongues and many more.

As always, there's more than enough music at the Shakori festival, but there are also a lot of other things going on, as well. Among the other attractions: a sustainability fair where area environmental pioneers will share ideas. There will be craft vendors, gourmet food, healing artists, workshops, poetry and instrument contests, drum circles, camping, and family and kids activities. Paperhand Puppet Intervention will join in on the Sunday celebration.

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