A crowd of more than 10,000 is expected for the 9th Annual TroyFest on the square in historic downtown Troy Saturday and Sunday.

TroyFest is held annually in memory of Troy native and celebrated artist Jean Lake. TroyFest features fine arts and crafts, a juried art show, farmers market, children’s art exhibit, kids corner, a film festival, food court and last, but certainly not least, non-stop entertainment.

Catherine Jordan, TroyFest entertainment co-chair, said the annual arts festival is a one-stage, family oriented event with something for everyone.

“TroyFest showcases local talent of song and dance from our community and Troy University,” Jordan said. “We’ll have a variety of entertainment on the Care Ambulance Stage, in the Gertrude Stephens Gazebo and The Messenger’s Kids’ Korner. And, it’s all free – the entertainment and all of the other activities. So, downtown Troy is the place you’ll want to be this weekend.”

TroyFest gets off to an early and fast start at 9 a.m. on Saturday and winds down at 6 p.m.

Puppets and pipers highlight the entertainment at the Kids’ Korner on Saturday with First Baptist Church Puppets Praising Christ shows at 9 and 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. The Troy University Pied Pipers will delight young and old with performances at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

While at the Kids’ Korner, youngsters will want to take advantage of the opportunity to create a treasure to take home at Lowe’s “Do It Yourself Kids Building Project” worksite. “Work” times are Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The Sounds of Atmore school choir will take the Care Ambulance Stage at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Troy School of Dance at 11:30 a.m. and the Alabama Jubilee Chorus at 12:30 p.m.

Afternoon performances on the “stage” will be Zumba at 1:30, the Charles Henderson Middle School Jazz Band at 2:30 and the Park Band at 3:30. The Saturday stage entertainment will close with Shelia Jackson and Friends at 4:30.

The Gertrude Stephens Gazebo on the square will feature bluegrass and folk music beginning with Mike Benton at 9 a.m. and Bill Bradham at 11. In the afternoon, music at the Gazebo will feature Good News Blues at 12:30, Before Tomorrow Comes at 1:30 and Michael Shane Rhodes at 2:30.

Bluegrass will give way to the announcement of the Juried Artist Awards at 3 p.m. and then close with Tony Amadore and 3:30 and Fire Mountain at 4:30.

The Student Art Exhibit at the Johnson Center for the Arts will be a feature of TroyFest, along with “Behind the Images: Alabama Stories” and “Projket Recon” throughout the Festival hours Saturday and Sunday.

“The Alabama International Film Festival Showcase will be ongoing all day Saturday with a variety of short and long films and documentaries in The Studio on East Walnut Street,” Jordan said. “At 6:30 p.m. there will be a screening of ‘Making the Most off of Less.’ That is the story of the plight of the American farmer. It’s about hard times and will be a highlight of the film festival.”

TroyFest will open at 10 a.m. on Sunday and close at 4 p.m. in cooperation with the Bible Reading Marathon, which begins at 6:30 p.m.

A “Worship Art Experience” of music and art with Brandon Berrey will begin at 12:15 p.m. at the Gazebo followed by J.B. Roberts, Adam Guthrie, Newton Campbell and Friends at 12:45. Sid Phelps will close out the entertainment at the Gazebo at 3 p.m.

On the “big” stage, the entertainment will get underway at 12:30 p.m. with “In His Steps” dance troupe. At 1 p.m. the Troy University International Students will perform followed by First Baptist Church “One Voice” at 2 p.m.

TroyFest 2011 will close with a bang, when the championship clogging company, “SheBANG” takes the stage at 2:30 p.m.

“We have a great lineup of entertainment already scheduled with more yet to come,” Jordan said. “We are excited to be able to spotlight many of our very talented local musicians at this year’s TroyFest. We are looking forward to a great weekend of celebrating the arts. We invite everyone to join us for two-days of festival fun.”