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ALBEMARLE — With Stanly County’s second iteration of Make Music Day less than a month away, event organizers are asking local residents to sign up to participate in the June 21 countywide holiday.

Established in the early 1980s, the annual worldwide celebration of music is now celebrated in over 150 communities nationally and over 2,000 cities in 120 different countries.

“Make Music Day is a one-day event where free, live musical performances, opportunities to make music and other musical events take place around the world on the longest day of the year,” Make Music Stanly County said in an event promo. “There will be free workshops plus performances throughout downtown Albemarle, Locust, and more.”

How to String Your Guitar, Folk Instruments, Fun With Rhythm, Recorders, Ukulele, Kazoos, Voice, Intro to String Instruments, Instrument Petting Zoo, and Bucket Drumming are among the series of workshops offered this year.

Make Music Stanly County has created a virtual signup center at stanlycounty.makemusicday.org where a booking system is connecting venues and musicians together for potential matches.

Any site in the county can be a host venue — hosts control the location, performance times and available equipment, and must be free and accessible to the public with open viewing space or available sidewalks for pedestrians.

Live performances are already scheduled for Albemarle, Badin, Locust, Oakboro and Norwood.

There are currently nine venues registered for the event: three Stanly County Public Library locations (Locust, Norwood, Albemarle), Courthouse Square Park, Historic 1852 Isaiah Snuggs House, Loafers and Legends Club, Locust City Hall backyard, Stanly County History Center, and The Talent Company Club House.

“Calling all musicians and performers — Stanly County is celebrating Make Music Day on June 21 and we want you to be part of it,” City of Locust announced on May 21. “This free, all-day, countywide celebration of music is open to everyone, whether you’re a seasoned performer, a hobbyist, or a first-time busker. Multiple locations around the county will be hosting live performances, including our own backyard at Locust City Hall. We’re inviting artists of all ages and styles to join in.”

Stanly County’s Make Music Day is sponsored by the Stanly County Arts Council, which is a 501c3 with a mission promoting broad-based cultural and educational activities in the arts throughout the county.

Other sponsors include the North Carolina Arts Council, Music on Main, Albemarle Music Store, and the Stanly County Concert Band.