Good weather, good food and nearly maxedout vendor spaces are just a few things Brookhaven-Lincoln CountyChamber of Commerce officials are excited about for this weekend’s37th Ole Brook Festival downtown.

    “We’re at a record on booth sales,” said Cliff Brumfield, thechamber’s executive vice president, Thursday. “There’s nine leftnow, and I expect them to be gone by the end of the day.”

    Brumfield said commercial food vendor space is completely maxedout, and that many vendors are new to the festival. He said thetotal number of vendors is about 170.

    “We’re excited about our new vendors,” he said. “We’ve goteverything from hermit crabs to puppies to antique re-purposedfurniture.

    “We’re also seeing a larger number of local vendors and localbusinesses,” he continued. “It’s good to see people supporting thecommunity.”

    Phone calls, online inquiries and other sources of interest haveled Brumfield to expect attendance numbers to be record-setting aswell.

    “We approached 10,000 last year,” he said. “It looks like we’llhave that if not more.”

    Brumfield said one of the many blessings being counted this year isthe good weather forecast.

    “In years past we’ve had to keep an eye on the Gulf and tropicalthreats and all that,” he said. “This year we’ve got sunny skiesand low 80s for the high and 60s for the low.”

    Kay Burton, the chamber’s program director, said a great number ofthe vendors this year are exhibiting handmade products.

    “Lots and lots of handmade this year,” she said. “Jewelry,headbands, crocheted items. There seems to be a surge to go back tohandmade. People want to buy them.”

    She said perhaps the economy has been pushing people towardproducing a wide variety of handmade products.

    “We’ll have everything there,” she continued. “Some authors arecoming to set up and sell their books. People will have homemadejellies and honey. You can even take a pet home this year.”

    The festival will get under way Friday, Brumfield said, when foodvendors will be open for lunchtime.

    He said streets will close at 5:30 p.m. to give people time tofinish work-week business. The festival will run until 9 p.m.Friday.

    The marketplace will re-open Saturday at 8 a.m., with local talentfrom the Mississippi School of the Arts students taking the mainstage at 9 a.m.

    The festival will continue Saturday until 8 p.m. Christian musicgroup Big Daddy Weave will present a free concert at 6:30 p.m.

    Also, the MSGirls4ACure will host its third annual 5K walk/run forbreast cancer awareness Saturday morning at the festival.

    “All of our benefits support the Susan G. Komen Foundation,” memberOlivia Wallace said.

    Wallace said that nearly 600 people have already pre-registered forthe 5K, which is almost double the 300 who participated lastyear.

    “We’re hoping to have at least half of the number whopre-registered to just walk up the day of and sign up to race,”said Wallace.

    Participants are encouraged to arrive for the race between 7 a.m.and 7:15 a.m. on Chickasaw Street next to the Brookhaven-LincolnCounty Chamber of Commerce building.

    Wallace said there will be a “pink-out” contest between 7:15 a.m.and 7:30 a.m. and winners will be announced shortly after.

    “The pink-out contest is just dressing up wacky and as pink aspossible,” she said.

    Warm-ups are at 7:45 a.m. with the race beginning at 8 a.m. sharp,Wallace said.

    In addition to the 5K, MSGirls4ACure will be hosting a 1-mile “funrun” for children to do.

    Tickets for the 5K and the fun run can be bought on-site Saturdaymorning at the tent next to the chamber.