Downtown will be filled with fun activities for people of allages Friday and Saturday as the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamberof Commerce puts on the 27th Annual Ole Brook Festival.

The festival will be much larger than in years past with morefood, more activities, more children’s games and more booths.

“It is twice as big as it was last year,” said John Chance,festival chairman.

Over 200 booths will line Whitworth Avenue, Cherokee Street andRailroad Park while providing a wide assortment of arts and craftsfrom noon until 11 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Nationally-known Christian artists Newsong, Anointed and NatalieGrant will bring entertainment to the downtown area from 7:30-11p.m. Friday on the stage in the north parking lot of Railroad Park.Local Christian performers will also hold a concert during the twohours prior.

Bleachers will be provided for the concerts, but organizerssuggest people bring lawnchairs just in case those seats fillup.

Plenty of activities have been planned to entertain children ofall ages during the festival as well.

Chance said he wants the Ole Brook Festival to have a familyatmosphere, so he and other organizers made sure there wereactivities for everyone.

“It’s a Christian-based event for the whole family,” he said.”This is the first major event in Brookhaven since the terroristattacks and what better way to come together than through aChristian event.”

The south parking lot of Railroad Park will be filled withgames, rides and other fun things, like a 32-foot inflatable slidein Kids Zone, which will stay open during the entire festival.

Inky the Clown will juggle and make balloon animals at Kids Zonefrom 4-8 p.m. Friday. A wood carving exhibit will be held from10-noon Saturday in front of the Log Cabin on Whitworth Avenue.

Dianne Williams, a nationally-known professional story teller,will entertain for an hour after that.

Following the story-telling session, children can enjoy aChristian-based magic show, featuring Alvin Lyons of Wesson.

Children are also encouraged to get their free caricature fromBobby Pennebaker from noon to 3 p.m. at the intersection ofCherokee and Whitworth.

Besides Kids Zone, another area of the festival will be filledwith fun activities for children to enjoy Saturday.

“There will be a youth interactive area located on the sidewalkunder the Depot pavilion,” Chance explained.

Holly Perkins of Brookhaven will help children paint ceramictiles that will later be fired and used for decorating Kids KingdomPlayground.

Janet Campbell Smith, a local art teacher, will have potterydemonstrations in that area as well.

Other activities include a Dulcimer band playing from 2-3 p.m.Saturday, an classic car show on Railroad Avenue, and a youthtalent contest from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Due to the festival, Whitworth Avenue and Cherokee Street willbe closed Friday and Saturday, but businesses along those streetswill remain open.