The 84th Harvest Festival kicks off at 1 p.m. Friday at the J. Ashley Wall Towne Square.

Vendors will be busy setting up booths and children's rides should be ready to go, said Wendell Chamber of Commerce executive director Ula Mae Life. Tickets to the children's games are $1 each or 25 for $20.

Entertainment Friday starts at 11 a.m. with a variety of local acts, and Christian rock will dominate the evening entertainment as Faith Journey and the Driven Praise Band take the stage starting at 7 p.m. They will be preceded by the Creedmoor Band at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday starts with parade

The next morning, at 10 a.m., look for the Harvest Festival parade, led by Muddy the Mudcat.

The Shriners will show off in their mini-cars, several town commissioners are preparing floats and bystanders could be treated to music from up to three bands.

East Wake High "is for sure," and Knightdale and Corinth Holder High musicians have been invited, too, Life said.

Car-lovers should appreciate the tail end of this year's parade, which includes entries in the festival Car Show.

As the parade ends, car show drivers will park along Main Street, and festivalgoers will be asked to vote for their favorite. The winner will be named People's Choice, Life said.

The parade route begins where Wendell Boulevard meets Industrial Drive - in front of White Dove Wedding Chapel, Life said.

Floats will travel along Wendell Boulevard, turn right on Main, then take Second to Pine.

Craft vendors will be ready, and children's rides and games open at 11 a.m., Saturday, Life said.

The children's train is coming back - "everyone loves the train," Life said, and youngsters can participate in a pumpkin derby, she said. Each participant will put a purchased pumpkin on wheels, then roll it down a hill to see whose pumpkin comes out the winner.

The entertainment stage opens at 11 a.m. and is booked with acts including singers, dancers and martial arts devotees.

Adults may want to check out the silent auction offered by St. Eugene Catholic Church.

The event was to have been part of the church's International Festival last month, but was postponed because of rain.

Attendees also can get blood pressure checks, cholesterol screenings, massages and more as part of the associated HealthFair, Life said.

The Health Fair will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

As chamber organizers hoped last year, they were able to secure extra space for this year's festival.

The event will spill over to Cypress by the railroad tracks, which will allow up to 95 vendors to set up booths, Life said.

The ever-popular Band of Oz will close out the evening with a concert at 7 p.m. Saturday.