A culmination of sounds produced by stringed instruments and voices will exude from downtown Lawrence during the 22nd Annual Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships.

The championships will be from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 25 at South Park, 11th and Massachusetts streets. If it rains, the event will be at Abe & Jake’s, Sixth and New Hampshire streets.

“It’s so much fun,” said Michelle Crank, who is involved in coordinating the event. “There are two stages of activities going on. … It’s a lot of kid and family-friendly activities. It attracts all generations.”

The competitions will draw musicians who play a variety of instruments, including the fiddle, banjo, flat-pick guitar, mandolin and a variety of acoustic instruments. Winners will be named in each category.

“Contestants could sign up that day,” Crank said. “They don’t even have to pre-register.”

Other entertainment includes performances by The Midday Ramblers, Denney School of Irish Dance with the Tallgrass Folk Project fiddlers, and Scott Tichenor, Chris Biggs and Rick Desko; storytelling by Priscilla Howe; a sing-along with Sarah and Thom; and silly hats by K.T. Walsh.

String players aren’t the only ones who are preparing for the weekend. Singing performances will occur as well. One of the groups that will present vocal performances is the Kaw Valley Shape Note Singing Assn. It will perform from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Watkins Community Museum of History, 1047 Mass.

Shape-note singing has been practiced for hundreds of years, said Brad Levy, a member of the association. Levy said when the Lawrence group participates in shape note singing, it sits in a square and is led by one individual who sings a cappella. The leader chooses a song from the “Original Sacred Harp” hymnal, and others follow.

The Kaw Valley Shape Note Singing Assn. has existed for nearly 12 years, Levy said. The group began at the 10th Annual Kaw Valley Fiddling and Picking Championships, when someone came to teach participants shape note singing.

“Shape note singing is more a participatory thing,” Levy said. “You’re singing for yourself rather than singing to perform for someone else.”

Crank said even if people cannot sing or play an instrument, they should still attend the day’s events.

“I’m a prime example,” she said. “I can’t sing or play anything, but I still enjoy it.”

Several pre-championships events are being planned for Saturday night. A barn dance basics workshop is from 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Woodlawn School, 508 Elm St. A community barn dance will be after the workshop, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Mike Rundle is caller and music is by Fox on the Run. Admission is $6 for adults and $2 for children 16 and younger.

Also, a music jam will be from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Mass Street Music, 1347 Mass. St. The jam is free.