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photo by Ralph B. Davis

Carnival rides await setup, ahead of this year’s Jenny Wiley Festival. Downtown Prestonsburg has begun its annual conversion to a festival grounds, with events scheduled to begin this evening. The carnival opens at noon Thursday.

<p>Lindsey Marissa Phillips, left, was named Miss Jenny Wiley, and Kennedy Bethann Garrett was named Miss Teen Jenny Wiley, during the Miss Jenny Wiley pageant Sept. 15. Phillips is the 18-year-old daughter of Tammy and the late Jimmy Phillips, of Salyersville. She is currently a freshman at Eastern Kentucky University, where she is majoring in occupational therapy. Garrett is a 14-year-old freshman at Magoffin County High School. She is the daughter of Connie (Minix) and Timothy Tibbs.</p>

Lindsey Marissa Phillips, left, was named Miss Jenny Wiley, and Kennedy Bethann Garrett was named Miss Teen Jenny Wiley, during the Miss Jenny Wiley pageant Sept. 15. Phillips is the 18-year-old daughter of Tammy and the late Jimmy Phillips, of Salyersville. She is currently a freshman at Eastern Kentucky University, where she is majoring in occupational therapy. Garrett is a 14-year-old freshman at Magoffin County High School. She is the daughter of Connie (Minix) and Timothy Tibbs.

PRESTONSBURG — The Jenny Wiley Festival gets in full swing beginning tonight, with four days of events gradually building to Saturday’s parade.

Vendors will begin setting up shop today, opening for business at 5 p.m. Then, at 6 p.m., there will be a trio of events competing for attention, including a performance by Dance Etc. at Prestonsburg High School, a martial arts demonstration on the downtown stage, and a cornhole tournament under the crafts tent at the Sally Gate Parking Lot.

At 7 p.m., the evening will conclude with a talent show on the downtown stage.

The carnival opens at noon Thursday, with rides interspersed throughout the downtown area. At 6 p.m., activities will take a more somber note, as a candlelight vigil is held to raise awareness of domestic violence. The vigil will be followed at 7 p.m. with a “Gospel under the Stars” concert, featuring Marlena Vanhoose, the Blanton Sisters, Redeemed, Ron Ramey and the Eastridge Boys, featuring David Taylor and Richie Rose.

Friday will begin with full bellies, as the Rotary Club holds its annual pancake breakfast at First Baptist Church Irene Cole Memorial, from 7 to 10 a.m.

Friday evening will feature the sounds of banjos and fiddles in the air, as the “Bluegrass Extravaganza” takes place, featuring Ralph Stanley II, the Moron Brothers and Five Miles from Nowhere.

Saturday will be chockful of activites, beginning with a car and bike show at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. Registration will begin at 8 a.m., with the show starting at 9 a.m.

There will be entertainment on the downtown stage from noon until 2 p.m. At 1:30 p.m., lineup will begin for the parade, which will begin at 3 p.m.

Following the parade, music will again begin at the downtown stage, leading up to Saturday night’s country music concert. At 6 p.m., Jeff Bates will present a two-hour acoustic show. At 8:30 p.m., Nashville recording artist Trent Tomlinson will take the stage to put an end to this year’s festival.