What started out as the Redwood Dixieland Jazz Festival 35 years ago has morphed into a multi-faceted American roots music event.

“This is the most diverse line-up we’ve ever had,” RCMF Director Mark Jansen said. “We have headliners from so many musical genres.”

This is the 33rd year of Eureka festival, which takes place Thursday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 5. The festival started off as primarily a dance event attracting dancers from all over the West Coast. It still focuses on dance music for swing dancers, but Jansen is proud of the fact that is has “become a musician’s festival where players collaborate with each other.”

A few years ago Jansen brought acclaimed East Coast blues guitarist Duke Robillard, the founder of Roomful of Blues, as a soloist instead of with his band. Jansen convinced him the level of talent was so high that he could form bands to play with him in a variety of blues and swing styles. He has repeated that with many other stellar musicians.

“The collaboration is what makes it special,” Jansen said. “The audience sees acts they’ve never seen before. The musicians get to do the things they love to do with musicians who they’ve never played with. Duke now considers it the best roots music festival in the world. He encourages other musicians to play the event.”

The festival has continued to grow over the years with the sponsorship of many individuals and companies, particularly the Eureka Lodging Alliance. Jansen said the city of Eureka is also an invaluable partner.

“We are now the largest draw for a single event in Eureka throughout the year,” Jansen said. “Hotels and restaurants fill up in the shoulder season, which follows the summer tourist time.”

Something new for the festival this year are two workshops with extraordinary guitarists, Redd Volkaert, formerly with Merle Haggard’s band, and Robillard. The classes are hosted by the Humboldt Folklife Festival in partnership with the RCMF. They will take place in the Clubhouse in the Eagle House on Saturday, Oct. 4. Volkaert’s class happens from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Robillard is featured from 1to 2:15 p.m. For information, go to humboldtfolklife.com.

Jansen ticked off the various musical styles and some of the headliners: The Louisiana Cajun of The Revelers and Michael Doucet with Tom Rigney and Flambeau; Western swing with the Western Flyers with Volkaert; early New Orleans jazz with Charlie Halloran; St. Louis vintage jazz with Miss Jubilee; swing bands such as Jonathan Stout and the Campus 5; New York jazz with the Lovestruck Balladeers; rockabilly with Deke Dickerson and the Whippersnappers; and blues with the Cash Box Kings and Mack Mcdonald.

The fest has eight venues spread throughout Eureka including the Eagle House, the Adorni Center, The Eureka Theater, the Eureka Veterans Hall, the Sequoia Center, Morris Graves, the Red Lion Inn and a street stage next to the Gazebo on Saturday night. For information on tickets, schedules and lodging, go to rcmfest.org.

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Paul DeMark is one of Humboldt’s most prolific and longest-serving drummers. He helps organize the RCMF.