EATON —The 51st Preble County Pork Festival returns to Eaton Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17-18, bringing back the beloved food, fun and crafts thousands of visitors from around the state and country travel here for each year.

Hundreds of crafts vendors, educational exhibits, and pork in all its forms return to the Preble County Fairgrounds for the festival this weekend.

The festival opens at 6:30 a.m., with breakfast both mornings and vendors and exhibits opening at 8 a.m.

The Pork Festival Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, at the intersection of Barron and Decatur Streets and ends in front of the grandstands at the fairgrounds.

The Pork Festival, held every third full weekend in September, is a showcase of community, commerce, and employment opportunities for Preble County and surrounding areas, organizers said in a press release earlier this year.

The release continued, “The festival’s rich history and nostalgia are wonderful examples of the spirit of all those who attend this well-preserved grand event tradition.”

This year, entertainment at the festival will include several free musical performances in the grandstands on Saturday and Sunday, including Honey & Blue on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., Zach Neil on Saturday at 3 p.m; 24/7 Party and on Sunday at 11 a.m., Britches Down on Sunday at 1 p.m. and The Growlers Band on Sunday at 3 p.m. Country legend Johnny Lee will appear on Saturday evening, at 7 p.m., with $15 general admission.

YouTube personality and cook “The Cajun Ninja” will appear at 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, and at 9 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday, in Bruner Arena.

The fan-favorite smorgasbord is back and include pork chops, sausage, sliced ham, coleslaw, baked beans, au gratin potatoes, pies and more. Additional food venues, including Breakfast, Short Order, Pop ‘n Chop, Nacho Stand, and others will still be available as well.

Lots more fun and entertainment will fill both days of the festival. For the full schedule, visit www.porkfestival.org.