Saturday morning, when performers Joanne Shenandoah, Power of Song and Vanover Caravan hit their respective stages at the scheduled 11 A.M. starting time, Pete Seeger’s legendary Clearwater Festival will kick off its 35th annual weekend event.

However, Seeger whose modesty is exceeded only by his greatness, credits long-time spouse Toshi whom he married in 1943 as the brainchild for the event, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help clean up his beloved river which was severely polluted.

As Seeger explained to me a few days ago, “She truly invented this unusual festival. At one time it just went on for one afternoon. It was originally called The Hudson Valley Folk Festival, but then (the town of ) Croton, said we could use the park to do whole weekends.”

Seeger gets misty when he recalls how he and Toshi who is now 91 met way back in the early 1940’s. “She was a member of a square dance group in New York that this woman from Kentucky started because she felt there was no one there who knew what good square dancing was. It was called The American Square Dance Group, and Toshi who was just a teenager at the time, was a member of it. I originally came to sing, but I stayed to dance with her, and every week I’d be there…We started going together…World War 11 came along…I went into the army…We started writing letters back and forth (and eventually) we got married.”

The Seeger family will all certainly be out for the whole festival, with Pete scheduled to share the stage o Sunday afternoon with long-time friend and collaborator, Lorre Wyatt. The pair recently collaborated on a fine cd called, A Perfect Union.

Saturday’s lineup includes such musical luminaries as folk singers Judy Collins, The David Bromberg Quartet, Tom Chapin, gospel artist Mavis Staples, and the folk-blues of The Guy Davis Band.

Renowned Canadian-Indian singer-songwriter Buffy St. Marie starts off Sunday’s festivities. Also appearing later in the day will be Acoustic Hot Tuna (featuring ex-Jefferson Airplaners Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassidy) With Steve Kimock, world music progenitors The Klezmatics, the multifacted David Amram, one of the newer acts on the bill alt-country rockers Son Volt, and actor-musician-composer Kris Kristofferson.

A memorial will be held in memory of beloved folk-singer Richie Havens, who passed away on April 22.

As for what else to expect, Seeger explained, “ There will be all kinds of dancing; African dancing, square dancing, Jewish dancing, and lord knows what (else). There will be a big stage (by which) 3000 people can sit on the ground and sing along with each other.

Tickets are $90 for each day, $150 for a complete weekend pass, and the $200 package includes camping, with a 15% discount for seniors over 65, students, and those who are physically challenged. Each stage area will be wheelchair accessible.

The festival is held at the very scenic Croton Point Park in Hudson-on-Croton in Westchester, New York, easily accessible by train, and shuttle bus, and beautiful weather is expected.

Further ticket information can be accessed by calling 845-236-5596.