JACKSON – Good ol’ family fun will be found once again at the Northampton County Farm Festival.

On Friday and Saturday, June 11-12, the festival will offer visitors music, food, games, displays as well as rides, including a Ferris Wheel.

For the second year in a row, the event will be held on the grounds of the Northampton County Cultural and Wellness Center in Jackson. The event will open at 12 noon on Friday.

Judy Collier with the Northampton County Chamber of Commerce said preparations for the festival are coming along.

This is the third year the chamber, with the support of the Northampton County Board of Commissioners and local sponsors, have staged the Farm Festival.

The festival was resurrected in 2008; ten years after the inaugural event in the late 1990s.

In those three short years the event has blossomed in both activities and attendance (Collier expects a crowd of 2,500-3,000 this year). From just a handful of bands and rides that first year back, the Farm Festival’s lineup will boast several bands, including headliners The Castaways and The Ginger Thompson Band.

The latter will take the stage on Friday night from 8-10 p.m. The Ginger Thompson Band is known for their variety of music, including soul, beach, R&B and pop. Fast moving and up tempo, this group is certain to fill your entertainment.

On Saturday evening The Castaways will perform from 8-10.

The Castaways are a popular beach music band known throughout the south. The eight-member ensemble has a total of nearly 50 years in the beach music industry and are known for their unique blend of beach, rock ‘n roll and soul.

Other musicians and bands offering an array of music, including Blues, Rock, Jazz, Gospel and Country, will also be showcased at the festival. The Willie Peebles Band, The Darns, Tony

Smith, Mimi’s Pork Destroyers, Wil Guyton, Uniquely Different and Dana Parker are all scheduled to perform.

The family oriented Gaston-based company, Tequila Sunrise, will once again coordinate the musical acts.

Collier was enthusiastic about the rides, from TC’s Amusements, the event will offer to families, which will include the bungee trampoline, Dixie twister swings, a 65 foot rapid slide and a Ferris Wheel.

“My big goal this year was to have that Ferris Wheel for the kids,” she said.

Collier said there is a fee for the rides this year, but it will be at a minimum of $1 per ride.

“This will be affordable for all families,” she said.

The rides will open on Friday from 3-11 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

The event will also feature other points of interests, including arts, crafts, food vendors and displays.

The crafts will consist of wreaths from “The Gift Gallery”, handmade soap, all types of jewelry, ceramics, blankets, festival t-shirts, items for children, candles, Radar Knives, homemade pickles, Pampered Chef, peanut gifts items from Baker’s Peanuts and much more.

Of course, a festival wouldn’t be fun without some good eats and Farm Festival is ready to serve some up. Blooming onions, cheesecake, ice cream, funnel cakes, fish, chicken, ribs, barbecue sandwiches and by the pound, hot dogs, hamburgers, turkey legs, popcorn, smoothies and Italian ice are just some of the goodies that will be offered.

New to the displays this year is USDA’s Wildlife Trailer which will be at the festival on Friday from 12 noon- 5 p.m. The trailer will teach children and adults alike about the critters living in their surroundings.

Antique tractors and cars from around Northampton County will also be on display.

“There will be something for everyone,” said Collier.