Local residents are invited to this weekend’s 22nd annual Mission Folk Music Festival, with a special deal offered Friday night.

According to artistic director Francis Xavier, part of the mandate of the festival society is to introduce people to the festival, and develop new audiences.

“We’ve always avoided booking really big names. We want to expose people to a wide variety of musical experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to,” he shared with The Record.

And this year’s event will be no exception, with a large roster of talent from across the globe, including Quebec’s Connie Kaldor, Rastrillos from Mexico, The Gallus Brothers from the U.S., Switzerland’s Stimmhorn and Italy’s Tenores di Neoneli.

Despite the range of talent, Xavier believes the show’s relative small size has helped ensure its survival.

“I’ve seen so many musical events come and go,” he began, including some that had huge money behind them with big acts, drawing massive crowds, but even some of those have folded. “There’s something to be said about the scale of the festival.

“We decided a long time ago to keep it manageable and sustainable. We want to keep it at a good size — smaller with more focus.”

The bigger the event becomes, the more money, parking and production is required to host the popular weekend, which draws thousands of music fans from the region and beyond.

“It’s never been about making money,” he offered.

Xavier said organizers are trying a few new things this year to boost the festival’s local popularity, including a concert next Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. at Bad Dog Grill by festival performer Eivor Palsdottir, who hails from the Faroe Islands.

To encourage more Missionites to head to Fraser River Heritage Park to take in the 22nd annual event, simply clip out the advertisement below, bring it down to the festival gate, and you’ll get in for only $10, which Xavier says is a substantial discount off the full price.

You may be asked for some identification to prove you reside here, he cautioned.

For more information on the festival, visit www.missionfolkmusicfestival.ca, or call 604-826-5937, or 1-866-494-FOLK (3655).