Liberty Fest this weekend at Little Chapel Church

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[This year's Liberty Fest at Little Chapel Church offers something for everyone this Labor Day weekend.

Except for helicopter rides, all the activities at the two-day festival are free, the Rev. Barry Steed, one of the pastors at Little Chapel, said.

Several musical acts are hitting the stage Saturday and Sunday. Nathan and Emily -- Nathan Herron and Emily Goldsmith -- are singing 7 p.m. Saturday, followed by Cross Country, a NASCAR-associated Christian country band currently on tour, Steed said.

On Sunday, No Compromise, a band from Ullin, will take the stage 6 p.m. Sunday. A band called River will close the stage entertainment at 7:30 Sunday. Fireworks will follow River's set, Steed said.

On Saturday, the church is sponsoring an open-microphone bluegrass jam from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. All who want to participate are invited to bring an instrument.

There will be several activities for kids. The church has planned a petting zoo, balloons, barrel rides, dunking booth, candy cannon and a rock-climbing wall, just to name a few things.

"Then for the kids there is face-painting, inflatables. We also have a mechanical bull this year," Steed said.

A hit from last year, the skateboard contest, will be held 2 p.m. Saturday.

Registrations begin at 1 p.m. for the event, which will be judged in beginner, intermediate and advanced categories.

There also will be washer-pitching contests, a car and motorcycle show, raffles, gospel music, bungee jumping, buggy rides and a rock-climbing wall, just to name a few of the activities on both days.

The variety of food available is dizzying and includes hamburgers, hot dogs, lemon shake-ups, kettle corn, jambalaya, fried pickles and barbecue.

"The theme of it is 'always remember ... never forget,'" Steed said. "It is all focused on the Wall of Remembrance we have out here."

Last Sunday, the church lit a torch in memorial of veterans and others, Steed said. The flame will burn through the festival until the fireworks display on Sunday night.

The wall includes a cloth cover that people have begun to sign in remembrance of others, Steed said. The remembrances are not necessarily for people who have died, it is just remembrance.

For instance, Steed signed the cloth in remembrance of his daughter and parents, he said.

After Liberty Fest, the memorial will be placed in the church, "As a reminder to people when they pray, to keep these people in their prayers," Steed said.

Schedule:

Gates open for the car and bike show at 1 p.m. both days.

Saturday

1 p.m. Singles washer tournament registration. Skateboard competition and car and bike show registrations begin

2 p.m. Skateboard contest begins

2 p.m. Singles washer tournament begins

4 p.m. Bluegrass jam

7 p.m. Nathan and Emily in concert

8 p.m. Cross Country in concert

Sunday

11:30 a.m. Motorcycle ride registration begins

12:30 p.m. Last bike out

1 p.m. Doubles washer tournament registration

Car and bike show registrations begin

2 p.m. Doubles washer tournament begins

6 p.m. No Compromise in concert

7:30 p.m. River in concert

8:45 p.m. Fireworks