Following last year’s event cancelation due to Hurricane Rita,organizers are expecting this year’s 32nd annual Ole Brook Festivalto be bigger and better.

Last year’s festival may have had a small response due to thehurricane, however this year “we already have lots of interest,”said Kay Burton, program coordinator for the Brookhaven-LincolnCounty Chamber of Commerce. Burton said last year’s turnout for theevent was slim.

“The weather started looking ominous.” Burton said of lastyear’s festival. “Those who had already put up their tents hadproblems keeping them up. We didn’t have the normal crowd we’reused to.”.

The Ole Brook Festival is a family-oriented festival, which willrun Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The chamber screens all vendorsand entertainment such as protesters, political and socialpromoters and vendors selling offensive items. The chamber nowclosely monitors who signs up to insure families have wholesomefun.

Chamber Executive Vice President Cliff Brumfield, encouragedpeople to attend.

“This will be the first large venue for family recreation afterHurricane Katrina,” said Brumfield.

Booth space for vendors is already 80 percent full with morethan 150 booths already spoken for.

Children are expected to have a great time this year. A kid’szone will be set up for children to enjoy things such as rockclimbing and pony and horse rides. Dora the Explorer will make anappearance at her booth all day Saturday. Several other meet andgreets with take place with three others characters. Those timesare: Elmo from 9 until 10 a.m., Joyful the Clown from 10 a.m. tonoon, Elmo from 1 until 2 p.m. and Batman Beyond from 2 until 3p.m. This year, the Kid’s Tent will feature a petting zoo, horseand buggy rides and a two-seater gyroscope ride among many others.Kids can enjoy a Cuddly Creation workshop, where they can stuffanimals, clothe them, make a birth certificate and take their newfriend home in a box.

More fun and interesting booths will set up and selling thingssuch as airbrush tattoos, airbrush T-shirts, woodcraft, yard art,school mascot items, pencil sketches of historic buildings andhomes, tie-dye clothing, collectables and Christmas ornaments.

“I know people just love coming for the food. The food boothsare incredible this year,” said Burton.

Foods being sold are hamburgers, chicken on a stick, funnelcakes, barbecue, turkey wings, blooming onions, polish dogs, chilidogs and fries, corn dogs, nachos, fried pickles and peppers,cotton candy, frozen and fresh squeezed lemonade.

The sixth annual Duck Derby, sponsored by King’s DaughtersFoundation, will take place at the Ole Brook Festival. The racebegins at 4 p.m. The grand prize is a 2006 Ford Focus, second placewill receive $2,500 and third place will receive $1,000. There willbe a “Dilly Dally” award given to the duck that comes in lastplace. That winner will receive a 12-month family membership toKing’s Daughters Fitness Center.

Whistlestop Motorcycle will have a bike show, with registrationbeginning at 11 a.m. An entry fee will be required. Judging beginsat noon, and gift certificate prizes will be awarded to the first,second and third place winners. There will be a “best of show”winner as well. Bikes will go for a short ride around the town at 8a.m.

“We usually do a 70- or 80-mile ride, but we are going to narrowit down a little this time,” said Whistlestop manager SteveMcFadden.

The entertainment for Saturday will be a talent show from 8 a.m.to 1 p.m. and a free Christian concert on the main stage from 7 to10 p.m. Focus elite show choir will perform at 1 p.m. Also, theMilitary Memorial Museum will be open to the public all day.