Anne-Claire Siegert

Staff writer

FAIRMONT — Fun is in season at the Fairmont Farmers Festival, a celebration that is steeped in a tradition that returns on Saturday.

“Fairmont’s Farmers Festival is 60 years old and began a tradition which annually brings folks together into a town which once tobacco ruled as the king crop,” Mayor Charles Kemp said. “Farming traditions and the lifestyles which accompanied them lent themselves to this annual get-together where busy families could swap stories, recipes and the latest farming news.

“Today Fairmont is a community where history and hospitality meet, and the Farmers Festival is the beacon which draws folks together.”

Bringing folks together this year are plenty activities.

Opening ceremonies will start at 9:40 a.m. with remarks by Kemp and Miss North Carolina Arlie Honeycutt. A parade quickly follows at 10 a.m. that will feature the newly-crowned Fairmont Festival queens — Little Miss Aniyah Lanae Taylor; Wee Miss Marley Grace Johnson; Tiny Miss Dajsha Lynn Fields; Junior Miss Tristen Carole Rich; Teen Miss Taylor Brooke Locklear; and Miss Ivy Deanna Page

A car, motorcycle and tractor show, which costs $20 to register, will be on display from 8:30 to noon, and there will be arts and crafts between Center and Cross streets from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Throughout the day, concession will be available, as will children’s bouncy houses and a Vietnam helicopter display. And for $20, people can participate in a horseshoe and cornhole tournament.

Performances include that of Lumbee tribal dancers from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., the New Silverstone gospel group from 12:15 to 1 p.m., and the blues group Lakota John and family at 2:30 p.m. A wrestling match will take place from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

About 10,000 people are expected to attend the festival on Saturday, which is expected to be sunny with highs in the mid- 70s.

The party continues at night at the Robeson County Fairgrounds exhibition hall, where the Carolina Breakers band will perform from 9 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.