The Hormel Historic Home will offer its first free music program Monday.

The event includes an evening outdoor concert and two daytime percussion workshops for children.

St. Paul-based performance company Songs of Hope is presenting the concert and workshops, bringing to Austin about 50 young artists from China, Italy, Turkey, Israel, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Madagascar, Colombia, the Bahamas and the U.S.

The free percussion workshops take place at the Paramount Theatre. One will be at 2:30 p.m. for children between 4 and 10; children over 10 may take part in a workshop at 5:30 p.m. Chaperones should accompany children to the workshops and children who also attend the evening concert will be invited on stage to perform with the group.

The concert will be at 7 p.m. in the Peace Garden at the Hormel Historic Home. Admission is free. Attendess should bring lawn chairs to the international performance featuring folk, blues, swing, reggae and rock music.

In the case of rain, the concert will be moved into the Hormel Historic Home banquet hall. Concessions, including popcorn, root beer and ice cream, will be available at 6:30 p.m.

Songs of Hope will also offer a free arts inservice concert at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home Tuesday morning before heading to their next tour appearance.

Songs of Hope is traveling to Austin courtesy of a grant from the MarySue Hormel Harris Trust to provide opportunities for all ages to appreciate music.

For more information about Songs of Hope, go to www.soundsofhope.org.