Residents can expect to laugh and sing when Tom Pease returns to the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 22.

Pease is no stranger to Austin. He estimated he had been here 30 times before.

“I’ve been here many, many, many times,” Pease said.

Julie Champlin, Nature Center assistant remembers seeing Pease perform with her children.

“I’ve known Tom Pease since my girls were little,” she said. “We keep bringing him back because of his speciality.”

His program is entirely participatory and often celebrates many themes, like reading, self-esteem and the environment.

“When you leave his concert, you just feel good,” Champlin said.

Pease has performed full time since 1982. He does approximately 220 shows a year at schools, libraries and camps across the Midwest.

Although his main audience is family and children, Pease will also perform a senior show.

“It’s a nice little change for me,” Pease said.

The senior program will be at 9 a.m. Aug. 22 for seniors 55 and older.

Both programs are free. RSVP by Aug. 21 by contacting the Nature Center at 507-437-7519, or jchnatur@smig.net.