The 36th annual Banjo & Fiddle Contest is set for Sept. 10 at Lowell National Historical Park/NPS, Ray Houde

It wouldn’t be a celebration without music, and at Lowell National Historical Park in Massachusetts, a variety of sounds will fill the air to tell the history of industrial Lowell and to honor 100 years of the National Park Service.

The park will host a National Park Service Centennial flag-raising at 11 a.m. Aug. 25 at the City of Lowell JFK Civic Plaza, with remarks from U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, Superintendent Celeste Bernardo, and Lowell city officials. The raising of the NPS flag will be accompanied by the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band – Rhythm in Blue playing “America the Beautiful.” After the flag-raising, bring your own lunch to the Market Mills Courtyard at 246 Market St. for a birthday cake and more entertainment with the band until 12:30 p.m.

Two days later, on Aug. 27, a daylong celebration of the Centennial will begin at 10 a.m. with a walking tour with Richard Howe and Superintendent Bernardo, then continue into the afternoon with music, dance, arts, crafts, family activities, and a resource fair. The event will host the launch of a children’s book, Mr. Magnificent’s Magical Merrimack Adventure, written and illustrated by Ingrid Hess, a UMass Lowell professor. Then, there’s the world premiere of Looming, a live performance of music rooted in the sounds of industrial Lowell and dance created to tell the story of Lowell’s diverse community, a project in collaboration with UMass Lowell Music Department, Angkor Dance Troupe, Flying Orb Productions and local artists.

The following month, the park will host its 36th annual Banjo & Fiddle Contest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at Boarding House Park, 40 French St. The friendly competition is free to both contestants and the audience. The repertoire of tunes played during the contest is what folklorists refer to as traditional music – music practiced by groups of people who share a common ethnic heritage, geographic region, or way of life. Tunes are shared within families and communities, and are passed on over generations. There will be jam sessions and music workshops from 10 a.m. to noon. In case of rain, the event will be held across the street at the Lowell High School Auditorium, 50 Fr. Morrissette Blvd.

For music lovers in the area later this month, the 30th annual Lowell Folk Festival is scheduled for July 29-31.