The Grand Arts Council is pleased to present its 18th Annual Cabin Fever Follies next Saturday in Grand Lake. Shake off those “mud season” blues by coming to watch your friends and family ply their talents on the stage during what has become quite a popular talent show.

More than 20 acts are signed up for this year’s event, with about a third of them as encore performances by previous years’ talents.

“We always try to bring in new acts every year,” said Jan Sears, GAC volunteer who is helping organize the talent with Linda Carlson. “The acts filled up early this year and there are still people wanting to be in it.

“This is a great time to see our local talent,” Carlson added.

Sears said the show is everybody’s chance for at least “15 minutes of fame,” with the program to include storytelling, comedy, song, dance and music, with an intermission with refreshments for purchase and returning long-time emcee Jim Peterson offering colorful between-act comedy and a Johnny-Carson-style monologue.

Gene Ackley, who participates in the Fraser Writer’s Group, kicks off the long list of local talent. Ackley will read “Old Mens’ Ski Day” by another local, John Hendricks, about what some old men go through in preparation for a powder day. Ackley’s reading is followed by Robert Canon on guitar and vocals, a vocal piece by Allaura Cox, Jessica Kemp on piano, a vocal performance by Hanna Rupp, a salsa dancing presentation by the El Pacifico Dancers, professional jazz pianist Brad Pregeant with students Adam Weaver and Jason Tarr, a vocal piece by Alex Sidell, Grand County Blues Society-sponsored Blues in the Schools band The Runaways.

The delightful evening continues with Grand Theatre Company owners/actors Tanny and Kimberlee Nanda who will present two opera pieces and a pop song, Grand Lake Elementary School’s Mountain Melody Makers chorus, a vocal composition with Jill Stegner, an instrumental trio with dad Geoffrey and sons Sam and Isaac Elliott, a song by Ben Wharton, Kay Irvine singing a vocal piece, Kysheema and the Bedouin Babes belly dancers shaking their sultry stuff, a vocal by Jen Kerber, an interpretive dance and slideshow by Middle Park High School art teacher Tara Smith (fulfilling a requirement for her master’s degree in fine art), a vocal performance by Rory Mulligan (accompanied by Zach Thorpe on guitar), and the evening is rounded out with a fantastic finale showcasing the ever-popular Mountain Man Ballet (what they’ll do and who will be there is always held as a special surprise, but they’re always a big crowd pleaser).

“If you have been through a winter like this one, you too would be ready for a celebration with Cabin Fever Follies,” Sears said.

The event is a great way to get the whole family out during mud season for some live entertainment (Carlson reminds everyone, “It’s called ‘Cabin Fever’ (follies) for a reason”) and support a good local cause.

Adult admission is $10, kids under 12 are admitted for $5 and all proceeds benefit the Grand Arts Council. Tickets are available at the Grand Lake Art Gallery, Elk Horn Art Gallery in Winter Park, the Granby Mini Mart, and at the door (but seating is limited). For more information, call Sears at (970) 887-0339 or Carlson at (970) 627-3895.