She said while the festival provides its usual food, fun and entertainment, there will also be some changes.

Officials said plans are still being discussed for the 2009 festival, which has tentatively been scheduled for October 3, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

However, Lee said, to commemorate Laurel’s lumber mill history, the Loblolly Festival will feature The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show out of St. Cloud, Fla.

“In its 28-year history, the lumberjack show has been featured on ESPN, TNN, Good Morning America and David Letterman. The show’s champion lumberjacks have engaged audiences all over the world including Africa, Europe, Japan and numerous states in the U.S,” Lee said. “The performance includes demonstrations of underhand chopping, axe target, saw log, chainsaw carving and log rolling to name a few.”

Lee said The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show prides itself on providing “old fashion, fun and family entertainment.”

Lee said efforts are also being made to seek new vendors for the festival.

“We are also going to try to work closely with our downtown merchants to make sure their needs are being met through the festival,” Lee said. “We want people to come downtown for the festival and entertain them enough that they stay in Laurel. ... We are trying to help keep the dollars locally.”

Lee said work on the festival continues.

She said the urban planning firm Arnett Muldrow & Assoc., of Greenville, SC, will develop The Loblolly Festival logo and promotional materials.

“The services of the urban planning firm is provided at no cost to Laurel Express for its membership with the Mississippi Main Street Association,” Lee said. “The logo development will take place as part of a larger five-day workshop with a team of Main Street professionals to be held July 20-24.”

Lee said Laurel Express is looking forward to hosting the city event.

“We’re proud to be the host of this event and we look forward to the Loblolly Festival becoming a fond memory for Laurel families,” said Lee said. “We will be revealing more as time goes on.”

Anyone needing more information about the festival should visit www.loblollyfestival.com or contact Lee at (601) 433-3255.