LEWISTON — Area residents of all ages are invited to an invigorating evening of folk dancing on Friday, July 13, in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library.

A Franco-style barn dance is scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m., with caller Cindy Larock leading attendees in a selection of jigs and reels rooted in the old-time kitchen parties of Quebec.

This portion of the evening is geared to families. “Everyone from first-graders to great-grandparents will be able to get in on the fun,” Larock said. “Even the band will be multigenerational, with a ‘mini-orchestra’ of local musicians led by 89-year-old, Canadian-born fiddler Maurice Pelletier backed up by his wife, Marie, on spoons.”

Guest caller Kim Roberts of Industry will take over the calling at 8 p.m. for three hours of up-tempo New England contra dancing to music performed by Greg and Jessie Boardman, Rebecca Grube and Hannah Rodrigue. The Boardmans are well-known local fiddle teachers. For many years, Greg was  director of Lewiston’s public school string program for grades 4-8, though which both Grube and Rodrigue (now in their early twenties) got their start as dance fiddlers.

The contra dancing will be user-friendly for all adults, regardless of experience, as well as for students from middle-school age and up, Larock said. Instruction will be provided throughout the evening.

Healthy Androscoggin has joined the library and Maine Folque Co-op in presenting this event as one of the featured “alternative” physical activities participants in the Get Fit & Win summer fitness program are urged to try out.

“Through our Get Fit & Win Program we aim to connect community members with new forms of exercise that they love and want to continue for years and years,” Erin Guay, an administrator with Healthy Androscoggin, said. “This event is a great way to try something that is new to many and fun to boot.”

Admission to the family dance is $1 for all; admission to the contra dance is $5/$3 for students. Anyone wanting to simply listen to the music and watch the dancing is welcome. The library is at 200 Lisbon St. Callahan Hall is air-conditioned. For more information, contact Folque Co-op at 782-0286, [email protected]. or www.MaineFolqueCo-op.com.