Sometimes you really do want to go to a place where everybody knows your name.

And chances are organizers of the 29th annual Palmerton Community Festival will be glad you came.

The time-honored event begins its three-day run later this afternoon in the borough park with an opening ceremony to pay tribute to the late Jane Stroup.

Susie Arner, event chairwoman, said it is “with pride” that the festival gets underway at 4:45 p.m. with a “heartfelt” ceremony to recognize the contributions of Stroup for her years of service to the festival.

The festival will be held from 5-11 p.m. today, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Today will include entertainment from the Large Flower Heads from 5-8 p.m. on the Main Stage, and Real Diamond from 9-10:30 p.m. on the Main Stage.

On Saturday, TNT Dance Studio will be in action from 11 a.m. to noon; the Palmerton Community Band from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Bandstand; Band of Brothers from 2-4 p.m. on the Main Stage; Sunshine Symphony from 5-7 p.m. on the Main Stage, and the Mahoney Brothers from 8-10:30 p.m. on the Main Stage.

Sunday will see entertainment in the form of Jean and The American Dream Band from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Bandstand; The Belle Tones from 2-3 p.m. on the Main Stage; the Rehrig Brothers from 4-6 p.m. on the Main Stage; and Karen as Dolly from 7:30-9 p.m. on the Main Stage.

Reading Escapades will provide a Readers Theater in the bandstand from 5-7 p.m. Saturday.

There will be a Treasure Chest Drawing, and tickets for the Treasure Chest will be sold all weekend, with the drawing being held on Sunday.

The festival will also feature rides, bingo, demonstrations, lunch bag raffle, handmade crafts, games, and plenty of favorite local foods. It will once again have vendor row, which is a line of direct sales vendors located near the rose garden across from the Parkside Elementary School.

New this year will be an ecumenical worship service at 10 a.m. Saturday that will be sponsored by the Christian Action Council of Palmerton Area Churches.

The nonprofit group Helping Assist Local Organizations will sell gyros to support its mission, with pizza sold by the Palmerton Municipal Fire Company.

Also, Arner said the festival is pleased to announce the return of bingo, a favorite of many.

“It will be a good time for all as we support the many valued local organizations raising money for their causes,” Arner said. “Please join us for one of Carbon County’s best events that kicks off the fall season.”

The event is held rain or shine. Admission and parking is free, with handicapped parking near the Palmerton Police Department and the Parkside Elementary School.

For everyone’s safety, pets (except for properly identified service dogs), bicycles and roller blades of any type are not allowed in the park the entire weekend. The park is smoke-free.

For more information, visit www.palmertonfestival.com.