No puny little rain drops are going to wash out the 26th Palmerton Community Festival.

"We always have concerns about the weather," said Susie Arner, one of the festival organizers. "We just keep our fingers crossed that everyone will still come out to the festival."Vendors and organizations started coming out on Tuesday to set up to get a jump start ahead of rain showers. Arner said she's not going to worry about the rain this weekend since there's nothing she can do about it.According to weather forecasts, Friday looks like it will be a spectacular day with a minimal chance of rain and temperatures in the low 80s. The rain threat doesn't creep in until late Saturday afternoon with a 60 percent chance of showers. As the sun sets, the chance of dark skies goes up to 80 percent chance.Whether it rains or shines, most of the vendors will stay open, Arner said. Even the music performers will continue crooning - unless the rain starts to fall too heavily. No one wants equipment to get damaged or people injured, Arner said.Rain isn't the only weather concern festival organizers face. Arner said hot weather can also be a problem."If it's too hot, people won't eat," she said. The good news - temperatures are forecast to huddle in the mid-70s throughout the weekend.While the skies stay blue and the sun stays warm, festival goers can enjoy a couple new activities. Arner said the Pennsylvania National Guard will have a climbing wall set up just inside the park on Fourth Street and Delaware Avenue. Patrons who are old enough, tall enough and healthy enough can try to climb to the top.Also new this year is Knocker Ball.Don't know what Knockerball is? Well, image a huge beach ball - only it's clear and big enough for a person to crawl into the middle. That's a Knockerball. People will have an opportunity to give it a try, Arner said.If climbing and bouncing don't sound like fun, there will still be plenty of traditional rides - about 15 to 20 of them for people of all ages. There are ride specials Friday through Sunday, too. On Friday, pay $15 and ride from 6 to 9 p.m. On Saturday, ride from 2 to 5 p.m. for $15 and from noon to 4 p.m. for $20 on Sunday.The festival opens at 5 p.m. on Friday in the borough park, but Arner said some vendors may be ready as early as 3 p.m. Anyone in the park at that time might be able to get a jump start on the goodies.The first music performer will be the Large Flower Heads from 5:15 to 7 p.m. on the main stage, followed by Hollywood Nights from 8 to 10:30 p.m. The festival closes at 11.The festival reopens at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning. Arner asked that patrons be respectful of a funeral on Saturday at St. John's Episcopal Church, which is near the park on Lafayette Avenue. There will be areas specified as funeral parking from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. She urges festival goers to cooperate with the signs and find other parking spots.With the opening of the festival, music begins with PA Villagers from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. followed by the Palmerton Community Band from 1:30-3:30 p.m., both in the bandstand. There's a little break and then One Nite Stand Band takes the stage from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on the main stage. Band of Brothers will perform from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the bandstand, and Mahoney Brothers sing from 8 to 10:30 p.m. at the main stage. The festival closes at 11 p.m. Saturday, and runs from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.Sunday's entertainment includes Perseverance Jazz Band from noon to 2 p.m. in the bandstand. Midnight Special will perform from 2:30 to 5 p.m.; and Twitty Fever from 6 to 9 p.m., both on the main stage.There is no admission charge, and parking is free. Handicapped parking is available near the Palmerton Police Department and Parkside Elementary School. No smoking is allowed anywhere in the park, and no pets, bikes, skateboards or roller skates of any type are permitted.For more information, visit

www.palmertonfestival.com.