The sixth annual Ricefest takes place this weekend on the field next to city hall in Riceboro.

The day begins with a parade at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. or “whenever,” according to City Councilman Chris Stacy. The event is free and open to the public.

With a theme of “Hometown Pride,” he said the parade will include marching bands, drill teams, antique automobiles and motorcycle-riding clowns.

Stacy said live, all-day entertainment will include the Georgia Geechee Gullah Shouters, Miss Rice and her court, comedian Tony Tone and the Albeni dancers. The Lenny Williams concert starts at 3:30 p.m. There also will be lots of food at the event, which celebrates Riceboro’s history with the old rice plantations as well as the Geechee Gullah culture.

“We’ve got 40 different venders who’ll offer everything from barbecue to you name it,” he said.

He said there also will be a talent and step show, historic exhibits, arts and crafts and a rice cook-off, which includes four categories: rice and meat, rice and vegetables, rice and seafood, and rice dessert.

“Last year’s winner for rice and meat was a sausage-and-rice dish,” he said. “The rice-and-vegetable winner was something called ‘biryani and rice.’ The seafood-and-rice winner was a shrimp casserole, and the dessert was something called ‘puddin’ to die for.’”

Stacy described Friday night’s homecoming event as a big family reunion. He said in addition to the entertainers taking part in Saturday’s event, Michael Hulett and radio personality Lil G will be there for this event taking place at the city’s youth center.

“The first year the event was sponsored by Jim Bacote with the Geechee Kunda,” Stacy said. “After that, the city has done it.”