The 52nd Annual Putnam County Dairy Festival sponsored by the Pilot Club of Eatonton and the Farmers Merchant Bank kicks off Saturday, June 2, around the Courthouse Square in downtown Eatonton recognizing the importance of the dairy industry to Putnam County.

The festival welcomes all ages to a variety of fun and entertainment throughout the day, including 68 booths and an array of activities planned in the afternoon.

The Farmers and Merchants Bank will kick off the festival with the 34th annual 10K Torture Trail and Fun Run starting at 8 a.m. in front of First United Methodist Church of Eatonton.

The 10K Torture Trail, a mainstay at the festival since 1978, gathers runners from all over the Southeast and has become the “official start” to the festival. It is run through the paved streets of Eatonton, while the Fun Run is a one-mile circle in downtown Eatonton.

“The kids love the Fun Run, and the parents enjoy running it with them,” Derek Hudson, Road Race and Fun Run director said. “The T-shirts are always popular, and luckily this year we’re using a new T-shirt company from a local business, which is good for the city.”

A $100 prize is given to the first place male and female winners.

Booths open at 9 a.m. around the Courthouse Square following the finish of the Fun Run and Road Race, and a parade begins at 10 a.m. through downtown Eatonton.

A popular event every year, the parade commences at the Putnam County Elementary school and runs through downtown Eatonton. Local elected officials and others from Eatonton and surrounding counties build floats based on the theme for this year’s festival, “Got Milk?”

“We usually have quite a number of entries in the parade every year. I believe around 80 last summer,” Glenda Ridley, festival volunteer said. “We also have a number of vintage cars that run through the parade every year as well.”

The best float wins a first place prize of $100, and the second place float earns $75.

Of the 68 booths set up during the festival, 13 include food vendors traveling from all over the Southeast to show off some of their own cooking talents to the festival-goers.

The Pilot Club also sponsors a barbecue tent each year where plates are served to those interested.

Besides food, 55 booths around the Courthouse Square will host all sorts of arts and crafts such as custom handbags and photo mugs.

“We have a little bit of everything,” Yvonne Harrell, one of the festival helpers said. “There will be all kinds of leather goods, jewelry, custom T-shirt making and face paintings for the kids.”

Children are encouraged to attend the festival and hang out in the designated play area, which is composed of pony rides, train rides, face painting and other activities.

On the Courthouse Square throughout the duration of the festival, attendees will be entertained by local speakers and singers including the Rev. Harriet Camp from Putnam County and The Dorsey Brothers singing old time gospel. Other entertainers include Bibb County vocalist Kaleigh Courson and local country musician Matt Rogers.

For more information on the Putnam County Dairy Festival, visit www.pceatonton.org/dairy.