Planning for Mitchell Farm’s annual music festival starts as early as January, but as long as everything goes smoothly, the only thing that founder Dee Mitchell has to do the day of the festival is sit back and enjoy the music with the horses.

For the last nine years, Mitchell Farm in Salem has held a music weekend of folk music concerts to raise funds for the farm. Visitors can enjoy a day or three of music while surrounded by grazing horses. Mitchell said the farm is a great venue for a music festival.

“When we were choosing who to have the first time we did the music festival, I thought, ‘Who do I want to play in my backyard?’” she said. She chose Aztec Two-Step for the first festival because she enjoyed their music when she was in college, and the band has been instrumental in growing the festival ever since.

Mitchell said the event attracts more than a thousand visitors, many of whom come back year to year with their friends.

This year’s festival will have two fundraising focuses: extra money for the farm’s hay fund and retirement money for a horse in the state’s Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard.

Mitchell said this year’s drought has forced them to feed the horses as much hay as they would normally use through the middle of winter. She estimated they went through an additional $8,000 in hay this summer, and proceeds from Friday and Sunday will go toward covering the unexpected expense.

Saturday’s performances will include a presentation of the color guard by the National Guard Horse guard, after which longtime member Zeus will be retired. Zeus, a warmblood cross beloved by the Guard, has served in the ceremonial cavalry unit since 2001. Proceeds from Saturday will go toward his retirement at the farm.

Tickets at the door are $55 for each night. The event is held rain or shine with tents, but bring chairs or blankets for seating. Food trucks will be on site, and guests are allowed to bring their own drinks. Dogs are not permitted at the farm. For more information, visit the farm's website.

a.hutchinson@theday.com