A long-standing Nashville tradition will return for its 12th year on Sunday, May 16, as Grand Old Dulcimer Day fills the air at Two Rivers Mansion with everything from mountain music to classical tunes and even a little rock and roll.

The free event, a celebration of the mountain dulcimer, will take place from noon until 6 p.m. at Two Rivers Mansion, which is located at 3130 McGavock Pike. According to event organizers, the 12th annual festival will include stage performances by renowned artists and dulcimer groups as well as dulcimer exhibits, introductory dulcimer lessons for children and plenty of great food provided by Houston's Meat & Produce.

Sponsored by the Grand Old Dulcimer Club and Metro Nashville Parks with support from Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music, Grand Old Dulcimer Day is tentatively scheduled to include performances by Sarah Elizabeth, Lee Rowe, Joni Bishop, Stephen Seifert and many more.

Festival-goers will enjoy great music and delectable food against the backdrop of the historic Two Rivers Mansion, a 19th century home built by the McGavock family. Restored to the 1870s period - the time when it was originally completed - the stunning estate was left to Vanderbilt University in 1965. The university later sold the home and 447 acres to Metropolitan Nashville government, which made the mansion and a 14-acre portion of the property part of its parks system.

The 40-plus-member Grand Old Dulcimer Club is one of many such clubs in middle Tennessee. The club is a group of dulcimer players and musician friends who meet monthly to play, learn and share. Club members regularly take their music into hospitals, nursing homes and schools. The club meets on the third Sunday of each month at Two Rivers Mansion from 2 until 5 p.m.

For more information, news and updates about the Grand Old Dulcimer Club or Grand Old Dulcimer Day, please visit www.grandolddulcimerclub.org.

Photo Information: Local professional dulcimer artist and teacher Stephen Seifert leads a dulcimer tutorial during the 2009 Grand Old Dulcimer Day event. Seifert is one of many dulcimer professionals who call Nashville home.