Oak Harbor might be a small city, but it sure does know how to end the summer season with a grand finale.

This Labor Day weekend, after nine months of preparation, the Oak Harbor Music Festival is bringing over 30 performers and bands from the Puget Sound region and beyond to downtown Oak Harbor, with many nationally and internationally known names.

According to Cynthia Mason, the festival’s president, the event offers residents and neighbors the opportunity to see, for free, artists that otherwise wouldn’t have a reason to perform in the area.

This year’s special guest artist is Max Frost, a singer and songwriter from Texas whose sound blends pop, rock, hip-hop and soul. He is known for his single “White Lies” and his album “Gold Rush.” He will perform at 5:45 p.m. Sunday at the Island Thrift-themed stage.

John Primer, a Blues Hall of Fame artist and three-time Grammy nominee, is one of the last traditional blues artists with Mississippi roots, according to the festival’s pamphlet. He will perform at 7:15 p.m. Friday at the Island Thrift stage as part of his band, “John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band.”

Cody Beebe & the Crooks combine rock and country music and have toured 30 states and seven European countries. The group is scheduled to perform at 9:15 p.m. Friday at the Island Thrift Stage.

Michelle Lambert has toured from Nashville to Los Angeles and is known for her song “Come to Me” and for her exceptionally fast rendition of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” She brings color to the stage with her alternative costumes and her music style that combines country, pop and Celtic music elements. Lambert and her violin will be on the Peoples Bank Stage at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Olson Bros Band is known internationally for the song “By and By.” The group, which originated in Olympia, won two national songwriting awards and was crowned “Best Local Band of Western Washington” by King 5 Evening Magazine in 2023. The Olson Bros will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday on the Peoples Bank stage.

Some Whidbey names include the Whidbey Island String Trio, a violin and two cellos ensemble that will bring classical sounds to the Island Thrift stage at 11 a.m. Sunday; The SeaNotes Big Band, a group formed 33 years ago that will bring swing-era music to the Peoples Bank stage at 11 a.m. Sunday; and Second Line, a young alternative rock and punk band that has performed a few shows in California and that will perform at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Peoples Bank.

The third stage is the El Cazador Buskers Cove, located at the corner of Dock Street and Pioneer Way, where adults can enjoy a drink while enjoying performances from 1 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday, the Pacific Grace Tax & Accounting Center Stage will feature a number of acts for children and families, including juggling, puppets, magic tricks and a big bubble show.

The yearly Teen Talent Showcase, which features four Whidbey young musicians, is at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Island Thrift Stage. This year’s picks are Adele Wood, Danika Kloewer, Jeremy Younkin and the band Kick-Brass.

Festival Director Larry Mason said the 12-year-old festival has gained popularity among artists through word of mouth, with many performers reaching out to play or return for the next edition. Though he said there is no way to count how many people come to watch as there are no tickets being sold, he has heard estimates of up to 20,000 people in past years.

“It’s been a very friendly, beautiful, wonderful environment,” he said.

The Sounds of Summer Concert Series, a series of pre-festival concerts that were held every Wednesday until this week, were also a big success, Larry Mason said, estimating the presence of about 400 people at a recent event.

The Oak Harbor Music Festival will also include food vendors, arts and crafts booths, and an RV and camping area. For more information about the event, visit oakharborfestival.com/history.