On April 16, music-lovers will get a preview of this year’s Rosendale Street Festival and help make it happen by attending an afternoon fundraiser at the Rosendale Recreation Center, located at 1055 Route 32. The music starts at noon with Dog on Fleas taking the stage, followed by Ratboy, Jr. at 1 p.m., Fre Atlast & Birds of a Feather at 1:45, CB Smith Band at 2, Sabor con Colór at 3, Voodelic at 4, Phelonius Phunk at 5 and Joey Eppard at 6.

The event will be emceed by Studio Stu, whose wit and one-string washboard promise to entertain further. The suggested donation is $10 per family, and there will be a raffle. Food will also be served.

Despite the loss of corporate sponsors, the show has continued to go on; this year’s Festival, to be held July 23 and 24, will feature 74 bands performing on five stages. In fact, community support has been so strong that in 2009 the festival had money left over, which funded scholarships in the New Paltz, Kingston and Rondout Valley School Districts, as well as the purchase of instruments for bands from those districts and sponsorship of music program events.

The Festival is completely run by volunteers, so whether or not you can make a donation, consider donating your time. Visit www.RosendaleStreetFestival.org for more information.