Sidewalk chalk art is always a big hit at the Festival of Memories.

The fourth annual Festival of Memories will be held in downtown New Martinsville Saturday.

The New Martinsville Riverfront Development Committee has planned a full slate of happenings. While it is primarily a one-day event, the Heritage Quilt Show begins Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will continue Saturday for the same hours. The show, held at West Virginia Northern Community College, is always full of beautiful handiwork.

On Saturday the fun begins at 9 a.m. with the Cruisers Unlimited Car Show through 3 p.m. ArtsLink will hold a quilt class exhibit in the Francis Creative Arts Center from 1-4 p.m. For those who prefer a more physically active afternoon, there will be a horseshoe tournament at the Moose Lodge and a corn hole tournament at 2 p.m. The Marble King Marble Tournament will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the Wetzel-Valley Agencies parking lot.

Other children’s activities will be face painting at Presto Lunch from 6-9 p.m. and sidewalk chalk art at Mims Gallery from 7-8:30 p.m. Then all ages will be provided by Bill Stokes and his magic act in the Lincoln Theater at 8:30 p.m.

Be an actor for an hour with the Wayward Players who will be presenting short plays in a Reader’s Theater format in the newly air-conditioned Lincoln Theater from 2-3 p.m. Included will be works by Mark Twain and James Thurber. Everyone is invited to participate and all a prospective “actor” needs to be able to do is read. In addition, an excerpt from the upcoming children’s theater production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be performed by cast members. Admission and participation is free.

The street-fair setting of the Festival of Memories is very appealing.

Entertainment at the outdoor stage will begin at 3 p.m. when Sounds Incredible Band plays from 3:45 p.m.; Streamline Band from 5:30-8 p.m.; Spike Riel Dance from 8:30-10 p.m. Street musician Mike Ramey will perform during the evening hours.

The official opening is at 6 p.m. with Phil Phister, former strongest man in the world.

The committee has revised the way they will be giving out gifts during the festival. A total of 1,000 wrist bands will be handed out at Mims Gallery from 3-4:30 p.m., then they will hand out $2,500 worth of gifts at 9:30 p.m.

“We want to give a lot of outdoor gifts for the children,” noted Steve Pallisco, committee member. There will also be gift certificates for adults.

The evening will conclude with fireworks at 10:30 p.m. Chesapeake Energy was a large contributor toward the festival.

“All you’re going to have to do is buy your food. Everything else is free,” noted Pallisco. Also, the food vendors are all non-profit organizations so the money benefits the community.