Austin ArtWorks Festival leaders are again inviting the city of Austin to come together over song.

Minnesota Community Sings is returning for a second year from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Veteran’s Pavilion in Bandshell Park. The public is invited to the free sing-along led by co-director and Austin native Bret Hesla.

“I just think it’s a great opportunity for Austin to be a community again,” said Connie Nelson, one of the co-chairs of the ArtWorks Festival music committee. “It’s just another thing that ties us together and I think people should take advantage of the time and the opportunity.”

Nelson and other organizers were pleased with the turnout for last August’s first Community Sings event in Austin. Organizers printed off 100 songs sheets and gave them all out. This year, they’ll print 150 song sheets and hope to give them all out again.

“We’re hoping that a few more people will come,” Nelson said.

Nelson noted that Minnesota Community Sings isn’t like a church choir. Most of the songs are folk songs and old spirituals.

“It’s upbeat things,” she said. “It’s supposed to be just really fun.”

The singing will be from about 6:30 to 8 p.m. before an ice cream social closes the event.

Nelson said people of any musical ability can come to sing, adding the song sheets don’t even include musical notes.

The event is held rain or shine in the pavilion. Though it was held last year during a rainy day, Nelson is hoping for better weather this year. Thus far, the forecast sees a change of rain early Wednesday before partly cloudy weather is expected in the evening.

People attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.