After months of planning and coordinating, the Hendrix Park Youth Recreation Association is playing host to their first Annual Hendrix Park Sports, Arts & Music Festival.

The event kicks off today at 9 a.m. with local crooner Jeffery Covington signing the National Anthem and other patriotic songs.

Covington is just the beginning of a day of great music and entertainment. Christian Rock band Decree hits the stage at 10:30 a.m. for what is sure to be a great show. Out of South Carolina, Decree is a family band that tours the nation singing and entertaining crowds.

One of the most anticipated acts of the festival is the Bryan County Elementary School and Middle School performances at 1 p.m. The students will be on the stage for over an hour and then Crowns of Glory will hit the stage with more Christian Rock.

At 3 p.m. Southern Rock band Playing With Strangers will get the crowds feet tapping and hands clapping with some great classic cover songs.

Then Bloomingdale’s High Velocity will take over with more Southern party favorites.

The music of Splynter will keep the crowd jamming, and the entertainment will culminate with the headlining act Jason Tyler Band rocking the festival beginning at 7 p.m.

Music isn’t the only attraction to this family friendly event. Oglethorpe Speedways will be showing off their cars and trailers. Savannah Sports Monthly Magazine and the Georgia Department of Health will be hosting free a kids’ mini Olympic village with the opportunity for participants to win great prizes. There will also be bouncy castles, super slides and train and pony rides.

For the adventurous festival goers there will be helicopter and hot air balloon rides, a mini recording studio and a dunk tank.

Bingo will be going on all day and there will be hourly cake walks to win some great prizes and home baked treats.

Other activities at the event will be a lacrosse and gymnastics demonstrations, the British Soccer League demo and competition, a home run derby, arts and crafts, food and more.

"We are really excited about how much we will have going on at the park during the event," said Festival Co-Chair Bryan Woods. "We will have something for everyone."

Organizers encourage everyone to bring a lawn chair and be ready for some great family fun.

There is a $2 entrance fee per car. All funds raised by the festival will go to the Hendrix Park Youth Recreation Association to help fund activities at the park and pay for the new college scholarship fund.

Hendrix Park is located at 3960 Wilma Edwards Road, just off HWY 280/ I16.