Oh music festivals, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways: You bring unprecedented amounts of joy to our ears and souls, you pave the way for inspiration and you are a bitchin' reason to party. 

Thanksgiving week, the 253Heart Music Festival brings us all of the above with three days of celebration featuring more than 40 live acts. Wednesday, Nov. 21, Friday, Nov. 23 and Saturday, Nov. 24, the Harmon Tap Room, Harmon Brewery & Eatery and Dorky's Arcade open the doors to the community, allowing local talent to play its heart out, plus providing an opportunity to give back - admission is non-perishable food items for local food banks.

"This is our third installment of the festival and we're really just trying to find the right time of the year to have this thing settle into," says Ben Fuller, event organizer and China Davis lead singer. "We're very optimistic that Thanksgiving weekend will be perfect, being that this is all about giving.

"When I started writing and playing music it was always my goal to be in a band that was important in the community, whether it was local or international," continues Fuller. "I remember being a little kid and being inspired by Live Aid and thinking to myself ‘I want to be a part of that!' I just think there are so many mundane gigs that bands take for whatever reason, there should be something they can play that empowers their band by giving back to their community. It motivates me more to do something like this than trying to be famous, maybe that's just me, but it really feels good. Although, I sometimes feel like a boxer in an exhibition match with Rocky Balboa, it's not easy work."

Organizing a three-day festival does have its ups and downs, even with the help of Danny Curry of Music Giving Back and Steve Naccarato of 253Heart.com, Republic of 253 and many other local businesses.

"I've handled pretty much all of the organizing of the event while Danny is more of a support person," says Fuller. "He is the guy who will be heading up all of the volunteers. Steve has been gracious in being a partner of the festival by lending the name. He does it because he sees the good that comes out of this event and the long term potential."

The biggest challenge?

"Timing," says Fuller. "Some bands just end up having too many gigs in a particular month and they will bow out. There is a balance you have to achieve in the quality of the acts and also in how long you'll wait for someone to get back to you."

The biggest reward?

"Seeing people smile and proud to be a part of something bigger than themselves in some way. It's just such a positive event being that we're just playing music and taking donations. We're happy with whatever we get to donate whether it's huge or small and I think that's why the 253Heart Festival will survive. We really don't have to make money, we just have to make each other feel good!"

253HEART MUSIC FESTIVAL

>>> Wednesday, Nov. 21, 7 p.m.

Harmon Taproom, 204 St. Helen's Ave., Tacoma
Underground Stage: Hella Sunshine. the.north.oaks.project, Stained By A Killer, Devil On A Leash. The Cottonwood Cutups
Acoustic Stage: Jon Kurtis Lindsay, Annie Lockwood, Champagne Sunday, Quincy "Q Dot" Henry, James Coates

Dorky's Barcade, 754 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
DJ stage featuring Chris Savenetti, Mr. Melanin, dAb, Deron "Suga" Jones, D:Fi, Ninja Kat

>>> Friday, Nov. 23, 6 p.m.

Harmon Taproom
Underground Stage: Halcion Halo, Tin Man, Blanco Bronco, The Bog Hoppers, Thunders of Wrath, Sean Michael's Kight, Reji LeFleur, White City Graves
Acoustic Stage: Nick Deonigi, Eric Thomas, Stoned Evergreen Travelers
Harmon Brewery, 1938 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 9 p.m.
Monday Ukulele Ohana, Jasmine Parker, Raymond Hayden, Leah Tussing, Eddie Mendoza

>>> Saturday, Nov. 24, 6 p.m.

Harmon Taproom
Underground Stage: In the Between, Amelia Circle, The Lush Tones, The Trasholes, The Variety Hour, A Leaf, Blacstahl, Bodybox, Rikk Beatty Band
Acoustic Stage: Evan Purcell, Gene Vallejo, Joe Rosati, Kody Ryan, Jeanlizabeth, Jake Nannery

Harmon Brewery, 9 p.m.
Deborah Page, Two Cities, Rafael Tranquilino