Banner Elk will host a music festival this weekend that officials hope will become an annual event.

Banner Elk residents have come together to organize the event to help a community member who is in need of a kidney transplant.  Lynne Lear, who is helping organize the event, said the woman who needs the transplant doesn’t know the fundraiser is being held.  Lear said she is at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center on full-time dialysis.

The event will feature music by Big Daddy Love, Melissa Reaves, Dark Side of the Boone, the Whip Daddies, and the Lucky Strikes.  Several of the area’s restaurants are donating food for the festival.  Face painting and other children’s activities will be on hand.  Alcohol will also be available for residents over 21 with a valid ID.

The Banner Elk Downtown Get Down will be held at the Banner Elk Town Park.  The event begins at 1:00 Sunday afternoon and will run until dark.  Organizers are asking that residents not bring food or coolers because the music is free and money will be raised by food, drink, and t-shirt sales as well as a silent auction.

*UPDATE Friday morning:  Organizers have decided NOT to allow alcohol at Sunday's event.