Mouthwatering foods, crowd-pleasing entertainment and boatloads of sunshine figure to greet the Palmerton Community Festival upon its return.

After a one-year absence, the 31st annual event will run from 5-11 tonight, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday in the Palmerton Borough Park.

The festival gets underway with opening ceremonies from 5-5:15 p.m. on the main stage. Entertainment will be provided by the Large Flowerheads from 5:15-7 p.m. on the main stage, Bill Reese and the At the Hop Band from 7-8:30 p.m. in the bandstand and The Cramer Brothers Band from 8:30-10:30 p.m. on the main stage. There will also be a ride special from 7-11 p.m. where it’s pay one price for the rides.

Saturday will see a CACPAC Ecumenical Worship Service from 10-11 a.m. in the bandstand, a 9/11 service from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on the main stage, Dance with Kim from 1-2 p.m. on the main stage, and a rededication ceremony for the newly renovated bandstand from 2-2:30 p.m. Entertainment will come in the form of the Palmerton Community Band from 2:30-4 p.m. in the bandstand; South Penn Dixie from 5-7 p.m. on the main stage; and the Mahoney Brothers from 8-10:30 p.m. on the main stage. There will also be a ride special from 1-5 p.m. where it’s pay one price for the rides.

The event wraps up Sunday with entertainment courtesy of Chart Toppers from Off the Charts Music School from 1-1:30 p.m. in the bandstand, Band of Brothers from 2-3:30 p.m. on the main stage, Ivory Blu from 3:30-4:15 p.m. in the bandstand; The Rehrig Brothers from 4:30-5:15 p.m. on the main stage; The Belle Tones from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on the main stage, and Bruce in the USA from 7:30-9 p.m. on the main stage. There will also be a ride special from noon to 4 p.m. where it’s pay one price for the rides.

There will also be local foods, bingo, games, demonstrations, vendors row, lunch bag raffle, handmade crafts and other activities throughout the festival.

Chairwoman Susie Arner said that while organizers are grateful to host the event, she stressed the need for people to be respectful of others.

Arner said organizers would prefer people not congregate in large groups, but rather, gather behind stands if they want to spend time with friends.

Additionally, she said the wearing of masks is “strongly encouraged, especially for those individuals that are not fully immunized.”

Arner added there will be access to hand sanitizer as well.

She noted there is free parking. That includes handicapped parking, specifically along Fourth Street and Lafayette Avenue.

“They must abide by those signs,” Arner said. “If not, they will be ticketed so we can allow those in need of a handicapped spot be able to park there.”

Arner said that people can bring their own folding chairs to sit in the entertainment area.

She said absolutely no pets are allowed in the park the entire weekend, as well as no bikes, scooters, or skateboards/hover boards.

“If folks are caught riding through the park, they will be required to get off the item and walk it out of the park,” Arner said.

She said special concessions will also be made for those who prefer to take out their food rather than eat at the festival, and anticipates an increase.

“They will accommodate people by having containers and wrap,” Arner said. “If people have their own personal container, that’s fine, too; be sure to bring a tote bag if you choose.”

With ample sunshine forecast for much of the event, Arner said attendance figures to be on the festival’s side.

“If we could meet Mother Nature personally, and if she truly provides us with dry weather, we would buy her all the food she wants,” she said. “We’d be thrilled with three days of sun.”

Arner said organizers want people to enjoy their experience at the festival.

“What we’re hoping for is that we are able to provide a safe atmosphere for people to visit, get something really good to eat, enjoy a small amount of entertainment,” she said. “But most importantly, that nonprofit groups can raise funds that they weren’t able to last year due to the pandemic; that way they can provide their nonprofit services to any people in need.”

For more information on the festival, visit palmertonfestival.com.