The 34th annual Palmerton Community Festival gets underway today at 5 p.m. in the borough park.

Hours are 5-11 p.m. today, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Susan Arner, president/co-chair, said that as usual, the festival will have a bountiful selection of foods sure to whet the appetites of many festival attendees.

“As the weather weighs heavy on my mind, I know that Palmerton, we got this,” Arner said. “We promise to do our best to give everyone the most delicious food they’ve tasted in a year, the best time that we can.”

Arner said that despite the weather, popular festival attractions such as crafters will be in under a tent, and bingo will be operating under a tent.

“Grab your umbrella, grab your rain jacket, put on your boots and join us for a guaranteed fun time,” she said. “We will be there doing what we love, supporting all the amazing vendors and nonprofit groups.”

There will be a $20 ride special from 6-10 p.m. Friday, 1-5 p.m. Saturday and 2-6 p.m. Sunday.

Entertainment today will consist of South Penn Dixie from 5:15-7:30 p.m. on the Main Stage, and Changes in Latitudes from 8:30-10:30 p.m. on the Main Stage.

However, Arner confessed that the festival will have to play things by ear as far as entertainment and the rides are concerned.

“We will operate on the condition of safety for everyone and certainly can’t predict that except each day and hour as it comes,” she said. “We ask everyone, yes, please come out but be patient and understanding with all the committee members as we move through the weekend and whatever Mother Nature provides us.”

Arner said the Palmerton Area School District will distribute free books to elementary students from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the district’s tent near the Parkside Education Center. Parents who have students in Pre-K through sixth grade may pick them up.

“These books are not just for Palmerton students, they would be helpful for anyone,” she said. “The festival is happy to partner with the school district to provide this opportunity for students and parents, so please take advantage of this and stop at their table.”

There will be several new vendors, including St. John’s UCC Church, which will feature all kinds of tasty sweets such as edible cookie dough: chocolate chip and sugar cookies; as well as regular chocolate and sugar cookies; fudge; hot chocolate, milk/chocolate milk, and hot coffee, along with Raising the House, which will feature pulled pork sandwiches and beef brisket sandwiches.

Arner encouraged people as they travel to and from the park to use the crosswalks, and always enter and exit the park by walking on the macadam paths.

She said first aid will be near the bandstand and manned by staff of the Palmerton Community Ambulance.

Arner said there is no smoking in the park per borough ordinance.

She said that pets (except for properly identified service dogs), bicycles, scooters and roller blades are not allowed in the park during the festival.