Beaufort County’s favorite recurring festival takes off for the season tonight in downtown Washington.

Music in the Streets will feature live musicians up Market Street and down Main Street from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Traffic will be blocked off in downtown Washington as the music takes over: country and rock and Christian, an old-time troubadour and a rocking bunch of teenagers.

While Friday night mini-festival takes up the same number of blocks, Washington Harbor District Alliance Director Beth Byrd said they’ve scaled the number of musicians back this year, partly for listeners’ sensibilities, partly for electrical outlet restrictions the City of Washington Utilities has placed on the event.

“It’s still encompassing the same amount of space, we just don’t have all the artists packed in,” Byrd said. “This way, the musicians won’t override each other.”

Slated to perform are a returning country act, the Mekele Buck Band, on the main stage at Main and Respess streets, Living Waters (Christian), K-OS (rockband, pronounced “chaos”), Born Again Trio, John Benson & Ed Tilley, Paul Bailey and J.B. Mayes.

Also returning are the Down East Hot Rods and Classic Car Show—this time, at the south end of Market Street.

“We’re looking forward to seeing those guys come back again,” Byrd said. “And they’re very excited to be there.”

Downtown businesses and restaurants have traditionally had later hours on Music in the Streets nights.

“We’d like to encourage everyone to dine in the restaurants downtown,” Byrd said. “We have so many now.”

Tonight marks 11 years of Music in the Streets, held the third Thursday of every month from April until October.