GREENFIELD — People from various walks of life gathered at the Franklin County Fairgrounds on Thursday for the first day of the three-day SoulFest Christian music festival.

In its 26th year, SoulFest secured the Greenfield fairgrounds for the first time, having previously held the event at venues in New Hampshire. This year, the festival lineup includes more than 60 musicians and speakers.

However, music is not the sole focus of the weekend. Christian ministries, nonprofits and educational partners are present as part of the festival’s goal to encourage action for social causes.

Peryle, an indie-pop musician from Boston who has been performing at SoulFest for several years, said she feels the festival is justice-focused with a goal of connecting with people on a deeper level both with music and through service.

“There’s a lot of organizations, nonprofits that we support here,” Peryle said. “I think on stage, my biggest hope is to connect with the audience, and that people are going to not only connect with each other but internally.”

Performer and songwriter Jim Trick, who has played at SoulFest every year since its inception, feels similarly.

“Our particular work is about reflecting the other side of life with the hope that when a person comes, they feel like they are finding themselves in the songs,” Trick said.

Although the festival is faith-based, Trick feels there is space for anyone who is interested in service to others.

“The mission of the festival is less religious nature and more service,” Trick said. “That is to say that we believe that love is the revolution that Jesus started. In a world of religious hypocrisy and judgment … SoulFest has been about taking people who are inclined to service and helping them find a place to put their love.”

Both Peryle and Trick expressed their excitement for the rest of the weekend.

The festival’s faith-based atmosphere is what has attracted Ruth and Tom Akers, of Westminster, Maryland, to SoulFest for the past 15 years.

“It’s nice to gather with other people. There’s a shared faith and I love the vibe up here,” Tom said. Ruth noted that as a teacher working with children, she appreciates the family-friendly nature of the festival and the different people she meets each year.

SoulFest volunteer Elaine Welzant, of Canterbury, Connecticut, has attended the festival before as a youth pastor with her group, but this year she wanted to volunteer.

Welzant feels the festival is unique, describing it as a “Christian Woodstock” for the space it holds for people to express their Christian identity in a communal setting.

“Sometimes you just feel so alone, almost like you’re the only one,” Welzant said. “You’re safe and it’s free to just worship God all together.”

SoulFest continues Friday and Saturday at the fairgrounds. Tickets are still available for purchase at the box office. Lineup and schedule information is available at thesoulfest.com/lineup.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com.