Preparations are nearly complete for the 22nd annual Mississippi Pecan Festival, which begins Friday near Richton.

Jeanette Fulmer, a director of the Mississippi Pecan Festival, said close to 10,000 visitors are expected for the three-day event, which wraps Sunday.

“It started as just an outlet for us to do arts and crafts,” Fulmer said. “It has grown so big because we’ve kept it in the family. Strictly families come. They can turn their kids loose to have a ball, and not worry about them.”

Fulmer said the festival offers plenty to do including:

• Mule pull

• Stock dog demonstrations

• Live craft demonstrations

• Live bluegrass and gospel music

• Pecan Festival pageant

• Antique engine show

Fulmer said Bass Pecan Co. is sponsoring this year’s charity bake-off, which will be held Sunday. The annual quilt show, which is scheduled for Friday, is being sponsored by First Pentecostal Church. The beloved “Purtiest Rooster Contest,” set for 2 p.m. Saturday, is being sponsored by Dr. Lester Spell Jr., commissioner for the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

“We have about 300 vendors of arts and crafts, antiques and collectibles,” she said. “There will be about 25 food vendors selling everything from Cajun gumbo, brisket, ribeye steak sandwiches, chicken on a stick, catfish plates and shrimp kabobs — just anything you can think of.”

Another featured attraction is the Living History Homestead, which actually attracts schoolkids year-round.

“We have two log cabins that are over 100 years old,” Fulmer said. “Ms. Betty makes butter and Mr. Kenneth milks the cows each morning to make the butter. Grandma Breland, who is about 80 years old, is in the Jones House, making fresh biscuits all day long. She’ll give you a biscuit with homemade jelly and some of Ms. Betty’s butter.”

Fulmer said there will be gardeners on hand to discuss what to plant this time of year.