Choochokam, the annual festival of the arts in Langley, takes place officially July 13-14, with a street fair that offers arts, crafts, music, dance, food and many more enticements that have drawn thousands of locals and visitors to the small South Whidbey city.

But following a newer tradition, the arts festival will again this year begin with a series of performances a week early, held at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.

The program will introduce off-island acts as well as familiar and popular local talent.

Among the performers is longtime island favorite, singer and songwriter Derek Parrott, who will stage a multimedia show that showcases the songs of his upcoming CD, “Ancient and Modern.”

Known for his classic folk-rock music, Parrott promises to give his audiences a program that translates the venerated 1960s themes of love and tolerance into a contemporary connection between individuals and between people and the Earth.

Beginning with a new song named “Someone Who Cares,” written following the death of Beatle George Harrison, Parrott will perform songs that are variously humorous, socially conscious and nostalgically memorable, and influenced by words of poets from Ralph Waldo Emerson to Bob Dylan.

Parrott also plans to use video clips and stills in what he says will be “a theatrical” event.

“I’m extremely excited,” he said. “People just have to see it.”

Another South Whidbey tradition coming to the WICA stage will be a musical production by Martha Murphy’s Whidbey Children’s Theater.

“Guys and Dolls Jr.” is set in 1940s New York City and describes the unlikely romance between a pure-at-heart urban missionary and a slick Broadway gambler. The show’s second romance storyline involves another gambler and his showgirl fiancee, who have been engaged for 14 years.

Playing the part of Sky Masterson is Andrew Gilkerson, with Darcy Page as Miss Sarah Brown, Orson Ossman as Nathan Detroit and Kate Hodges as Miss Adelaide.

Nicely-Nicely Johnson is played by Ryan Karamanyan. Other gamblers are Jared Moore as Benny Southstreet; John Gerlach as Harry the Horse, Erik Swanson as Rusty Charlie and Michael Scullin as Angie the Ox. Richard McLean plays Big Jule, Nate Goodman, Max Cole Takanikos, Matt Statz and Ty Molbak are also cast as gamblers. Sean Karamanyan plays Lt. Brannigan.

Mission Band members include Alex Simpson, Nathan Simpson, Dinah Hassrick, and Sarah Youssefi. Patrick McLean plays Arvide and Erin Hilton is General Cartwright. Hot Box girls are Elizabeth Grant, Brittney Blustein, Bridget Scott, Michelle Young, Aurora Brigham and Anna Lennon.

Also on the WICA schedule are pianist Jeannette Alexander, lively hip-hop dancers Turf, and Johnny Connolly with his Celtic box accordion.

Kicking off the weekend street festival July 12 will be Open Mic Review 2002, starting at 6 p.m. Friday at Langley Park.

The performers, who were all welcomed enthusiastically at the Smilin’ Dog Open Mic events during the past year, will come together for an eclectic open air show. They include Joni Takanikos, Larry Bossert, the World Accordian to Open Mic Band of Susanne Ohrvik and Friends, Ed Newkirk, the Dunn-Wilder Family, Testing testers Steve Showell and Joanne Rouse, Peggy Munoz, cowboy poet Marshall McElveen, Bev MonteCalvo and The Other Side, Katrina Ellison, Jay Nehf and Friends and Nikko.

Saturday and Sunday will feature entertainment including Sister Monk Harem, Kindermusik for kids, acoustic folk, rock and roll and bluegrass from Banjaxed, country tunes from Tracy Reynolds, the new teen pop band Sub-Motive, slide guitar by Nick Vigarino, all female Zydeco tunes from Les Femmes d’E n Fer, and street dance music by MerKaBa and the Langley All Stars.