SANDY RIVER PLANTATION — Playing the music written by the grandfather he never knew, Mason Strunk, 12, of Eustis opened the 2nd Annual Saddleback Bluegrass Festival on Saturday.

The first of seven bands in the lineup, the young Strunk played the hits of the late Maine country star Judd Strunk, including his most famous tune, “Daisy a Day.”

And the daisies were in bloom all over the hillside at the ski resort as about 1,500 fans, young and old, gathered in front of the lodge, under mostly sunny skies and balmy August temperatures.

Little girls in sundresses twirled to the music on the stage-side dancing area, while a group of boys on a stretch of the lower ski slope were engrossed in an impromptu Wiffle ball game.

“I love bluegrass festivals because it’s always a multi-generational crowd,” said Laurie Caldwell Littlejohn of Cape Elizabeth. “It’s very fun to watch the little ones run and dance, and there could be a Santa Claus contest because there are many gentlemen here with white hair and white beards.”

Littlejohn said she came to the first bluegrass festival at Saddleback in 2010 and had such a good time that she came back. She thought the crowd was a bit smaller this year, but everybody seemed to be having a good time.

Kieran McManus of Portland described the festival as the East Coast’s version of the giant Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado.

“It’s also interesting because this has a very distinct Maine feel to it,” he said. “It’s very Maine-centric. Everybody is having a good time, but at the same time everybody gives you your space — Mainers like their space.”

Nearby, Pete Beisler of Nashua, N.H., lounged back in a camp chair, feet up and shirtless, soaking in the music and sun.

“You can’t beat this,” Beisler said. “The whole afternoon has been just awesome.”

Festival organizers said all was going smoothly and they expected the crowd to creep toward 2,000 by the time the festival headliner, country star Ricky Skaggs and his band the Kentucky Thunder, took the stage at 6 p.m.

Saddleback General Manager Chris Farmer said his staff was taking note of suggestions from the crowd and planning improvements for the resort’s next bluegrass festival in the summer of 2012.

“We’re glad this is turning into another successful event that will really helps us solidify the idea that the Rangeley Lakes Region is really a four-season area,” Farmer said.

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