LYNN – David Gass started the International Folk Festival at Lynn Heritage State Park because he believed folk music was missing from the lives of modern people, replaced by American pop and rock music.A former civil rights activist, Gass believes in preserving the cultures that have contributed to the American melting pot. A fiddle and guitar player himself, Gass, a real estate agent, is an active member of the community as director of the Highland Coalition. “I see a lot of people coming here and adopting American ways,” he said. “Why cant they keep their own culture and perform it?”Gass modeled the festival after Lowell?s national folk festival that draws 200,000 people to the city every year. With an venue available at the Lynn Heritage State Park waterfront and funded by Save the Harbor, Save the Bay organization, Gass wanted to bring awareness to Lynn?s diverse culture.Now in its third year, the folk festival will be held Saturday with a theme of bringing world peace through the arts. “The idea is to bring folks together,” said Gass. “Music is the universal language – it breaks down barriers like nothing else. I don?t know of any musicians who have created war.”The festival will feature the cultures of Cambodia, Japan, Latin America, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, and the Caribbean Islands including Haiti, Trinidad, and Barbados through local and international bands. From noon to 8 p.m., festival goers can bring a chair or blanket and enjoy ethnic foods from some of the featured cultures picnic-style as they take in the music of a culture different from their own.Gass thought it especially important to feature Japanese and Arabic music to draw attention to arts from those cultures even in the face of war and natural disaster. “People really haven?t heard Arabic music,” he said.From the exotic to the music of our own country, Gass says a portion of the festival will be devoted to American folk music.?It?s the songs your mother played when you were a kid,” described Gass. Some examples are songs that are sung in schools in churches, like?This Land Is Your Land,” and “She?ll Be Coming Round the Mountain.” “They?re based on stories and life experiences rather than loved-based songs like pop,” said Gass. One song specifically celebrates the pre-revolutionary city of Lynn in “Three Men From Lynn.”Along with back-to-back performances on the stage, the festival will take on a workshop vibe to teach the audience about different cultures. Musicians will be out showing others how their instruments work, and teaching about the origin of their culture?s music and language. A variety of activities will complement the entertainment: a Boston cricket team will be on hand to teach the fundamentals of the British game, a leather worker will show the art of his craft, Mr. Peacock, a mime, will work the crowd, and there will be face painting for kids and adults alike. This year there will also be flamenco dancers performing, and Gass says all are encouraged to get up and dance.Gass even welcomes others to join in on the performance: “People are welcome to bring instruments and play under a tree. This is kind of a folk festival atmosphere.”Gass is expecting there to be 400 to 500 people in attendance this year, hoping to bring it up from last year?s 400 with more convenient parking in an overflow lot on Market Street. Also, Gass is expecting that this year?s date will attract more people, since last year?s festival on July 3 collided with Independence Day activities.?This is right in line with what Lynn is trying to do with finding a way to promote downtown Lynn as a cultural district,” said Gass. He hopes in the future to receive support from Lynn Chamber of Commerce, noting that other cities culture is more of a driving force for the economy. For now, the festival is supported by donations from individuals and businesses.