If the talk around town is right, there will be a free-for-all at the Academy Street Community Park on Saturday, May 15.

For the past couple of years, it’s been like that and, if the members of Rockwest Baptist Church have any say about it, the free-for-alls will continue for many years to come.

“We think it’s important to bring the community together at least once a year to enjoy the fellowship of family, friends and neighbors,” said Doristine Sankey, a co-coordinator of the annual May Day Fest, which is sponsored by Rockwest Baptist Church. “There is no admission charge and all of the activities are free. We want everybody to come out and enjoy an afternoon of fellowship and fun. And, it’s all free.”

May Day Fest will get under way at noon with the planting of the Maypole, which officially opens the spring festival.

Sankey laughed at the idea of dancing around the Maypole.

“We’ll probably strut around the Maypole but we’ll get the festival off to a good start,” she said. “We’ll have activities for the young children, the teens and young adults and our senior adults. So there will be plenty to do and those who don’t want to participate can sit back and watch.”

After the Maypole “strut,” there will be sack races, the egg roll and inflatable fun for the kids and Bingo for the adults.

Around 1 p.m., everyone will be invited to a hamburger/hotdog lunch and, after a short time of rest, the activities will begin at 2 p.m. with basketball and volleyball games, water slides and Bingo … and the cakewalk.

“Everybody loves the cakewalk and we’ll have a table full of cakes so there will be a lot of winners,” Sankey said.

Around 3 p.m. a kickball game is scheduled for the younger children and softball for the older “kids.” And the Bingo table will still be open for those who prefer a less strenuous activity.

“We’ll have so many activities going on at the same time that we don’t need entertainment,” Sankey said. “We’ll have plenty to keep people interested and entertained.”

The May Day Fest is an opportunity for families to spend some time together and enjoy an afternoon of wholesome fun at not cost.

“We just hope that people will take advantage of this opportunity to come together as families, friends and as a community,” Sankey said.