TREMONT - The Tremont community of about 2,200 will grow to around 30,000 for the 41st annual Tremont Turkey Festival, which runs Friday through Sunday.

Chairman Boyd King said organizers "don't mess with success." Much of the festival will consist of regular staples of the yearly event, namely the secret recipe turkey sandwiches and strawberry shortcake.

One new event is a scaled-down, kids' version of last year's first-ever antique tractor pull. It will be from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday on James Street in the center of the park. Kids ages 4 to 12 can enter for $2.

"We supply the tractors, you supply the power," said King about the pedal-operated equipment.

A boys' round-robin baseball tournament starts at 8 a.m. Saturday for boys age 8 and younger.

More than 2,000 volunteers put the festival together each year.

"I have no doubt this festival has been going strong since 1966 because of our volunteers," King said.

Steve Bechtel of Tremont resident got involved 13 years ago as one of the bed racers. While he still has a bed in the race, he leaves that to the younger legs and now volunteers in the food line. He is what King refers to as both an "unsung hero" to the festival and a VIP.

"I think it's the people that come and the people that work the festival that makes it fun," said Bechtel. "This is such a community-oriented festival, which I think is what makes it so successful."

The Tremont Turkey Festival started as a way to raise funds to build a swimming pool in the Tremont Park. Last year, the event raised $55,196, which was distributed to organizations such as the Tremont Pool, Tremont Library and Girl Scouts.

A complete schedule of events, entry fees and more can be found on the official Tremont Turkey Festival website at http://www.turkeyfestival.com.

Turkey Festival

FRIDAY

- Events start at 11 and run until 10:45 p.m.

Food, merchants' tent, craft show, antique corner, carnival, entertainment.

SATURDAY

- Events start at 6:30 a.m. and until 10:45 p.m.

Pancake and sausage breakfast; 5K foot race; basketball, baseball and horseshoe tournaments; merchants' tent; country store; antique tractor pull; petting zoo; food; carnival; kids' tractor pull; entertainment; bed races; lip sync contest; queen and court introductions.

SUNDAY

- Events start at 10 a.m. and end after 4 p.m.

Community church service; car show; food; craft show; carnival; merchants' tent; antique corner; entertainment; parade.