Songwriters, pickers and Grammy award winners are scheduled to perform at the sixth annual Blue Ridge Harvestfest, slated for Sept. 26-28 in LaFayette.

The festival is expected to draw up to 7,000 music lovers to Cherokee Farms, just outside LaFayette city limits.

More than 30 bands spread across three stages will play for the crowds during the weekend, with headliners including John Prine, Gillian Welch, Donna the Buffalo and Sam Bush.

Event promoters at High Sierra Music said they have put together “an eclectic array of the finest talent from bluegrass, Americana, rock, roots, funk, folk and much more.”

“There are multiple stages going on all at the same time, so if there’s something you’re not really keen on one stage, you can stroll over to another and I’m sure you’ll find something you’ll like,” High Sierra Music spokeswoman Rebecca Yudenfreund said.

The production company, based in Berkeley, Calif., is working with local authorities and will bring its own security crew as well, she said.

“We are a production company and put on large events all over the country,” she said. “We’re really experienced and well-acquainted with what it takes to produce a large event, including the right security. We are actually bringing a lot of key staff with us who are very experienced and can handle the crowds just fine.”

The festival spent its first five years just south of Atlanta in Fairburn, Yudenfreund said. She said she is looking forward to hosting the event in LaFayette.

“The new location is definitely a lot more appropriate,” she said. “It’s more scenic and closer to more places like Nashville, Knoxville and Birmingham.”

LaFayette officials said they anticipate large crowds and the money they bring with them.

“I don’t know how many (attendees) they’re going to bring, but even if they brought 2,000 people here, it would still benefit our economy,” LaFayette Mayor Neal Florence said. “The way things are going right now, we can use any influx of tourists and spending that will help generate any type of income.”

“We’re proud to have any kind of tourism we can get,” LaFayette City Manager Johnnie Arnold said. “We realize there will be some purchases at local stores. It’s a form of tourism, and we are pleased to get any tourism we can.”

Music is not the only thing on the agenda for festivalgoers, Yudenfreund said. Other activities include family activities like face painting and games, various food vendors and a craft show.

Campers may arrive a day before the festival to set up their campsite for an additional $10. Gates for campers open at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25, and other festivalgoers may enter at 8 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 26.

Tickets are already on sale, and available in several different packages.

Single day tickets for Friday are $35, Saturday tickets are $50 and Sunday tickets are $45. A three-pay pass is $120 if purchased before Sept. 24. Gate prices jump to $140. An adult two-pass for Saturday and Sunday costs $110 before Sept. 24. Afterwards, the price is $125. Children ages 6 to 12 can purchase a three-day pass for $30 each.

Yudenfreund said bluegrass lovers can get a $15 price break, or $105 for the three-day pass, which is only available at www.harvestfest.com on Monday, Sept. 8.

Several local outlets are selling tickets, including Cat’s Records in Chattanooga, Discover Music in Decatur, IFO in Atlanta, Wuxtry Records in Athens, Hearne’s East in Rome and DDK Music and Herbs in LaFayette.

Tickets are also available by phone at (510) 420-1529, and on the Internet at www.harvestfest.com. More information is also available at that web site