The party on the Pearl is fast approaching as the longest-running music festival in Mississippi begins Thursday in Monticello. The 41st Annual Atwood Music Festival kicks off Memorial Day Weekend at the Atwood Water Park on the Pearl River.

Hundreds will make their way to Monticello for the festival of music, food, friends and fun on its big days Friday and Saturday, after regional band Mitch and Henry take the stage Thursday night to play what they call “swamp pop.”

Gay McElroy, administrative assistant for the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, said the event will boast food from local vendors including funnel cakes, snowballs, walking tacos, porkchop sandwiches and the like as well as fare from a “great little” BBQ restaurant, Joe Walts Smoking Grill.

There will be activities for children, games, a mechanical bull and arts-and-crafts leading up to the fireworks finale Saturday night.

McElroy said it is a sight to see children looking up from their electronics to join the community that comes together every year without fail.

“It’s a really good time for the community to celebrate their traditions and where they come from and just be together for an event that everyone can enjoy,” McElroy said. “And of course there’s the Memorial Day aspect of it, so there’s lots of red, white and blue. Some people go all out — it’s very cute.”

One remarkable part of the festival is the family-reunion atmosphere that has become a tradition for many festival fans. McElroy said she spoke to a man recently who said he had not missed an Atwood Fest in 30 years.

Unfortunately, one member of the Atwood Music Festival family will be missing this year. Angela Calcote was a long-time festival committee member who served as chairman of the festival for six years leading up to her death in January, when she lost a long battle with colon cancer.

The festival will sponsor an Angela Calcote Memorial Fund and will take donations at the gate over the course of the weekend. Calcote will be remembered Friday at 8 p.m. with a photo and music montage, McElroy said.

Friday night’s festivities start at 5:30 when local and regional country music artists take the stage before headliner Chase Bryant performs at 9:30. Bryant is an up-and-coming country artist with a top-10 hit “Take It on Back.”

For festival-goers, Saturday will be “A Great Day to Be Alive” when Travis Tritt graces the stage as the night’s headline act. Tritt was at the forefront of country music’s explosion in the early ’90s with his 1990 album “Country Club.” Tritt has been filling venues coast to coast since, racking up two Grammys and three CMA awards with his eight albums and many hit singles.

Tritt is well-known for numerous chart-topping hits including “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” “Help Me Hold On,” “Where Corn Don’t Grow,” “The Whiskey Ain’t Workin’” and “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” among others.

McElroy said The Atwood Music Festival is the main fundraiser for the chamber in addition to being an all-around great time.

“It’s our biggest tourism draw for the year by far,” McElroy said. “It makes a lot of money for the park, the hotels, the stores in town — economically it’s a really good thing for the county.”

Thursday night’s show is free with a weekend pass or $5 per person. Advanced weekend passes are $35 for adults 15 and older and $25 for children ages 6 to 14. Tickets at the gate will be $25 per night for adults 15 and older and $15 per night for children ages 6 to 14. Tickets for all children ages 5 and under are free.

Advanced tickets can be purchased in Brookhaven at First Bank and State Bank; in Monticello at Ramey’s Grocery, First Bank, State Bank and the Chamber; and in McComb at State Bank.