AHOSKIE – It’s back and better than ever.

The second annual Summer Youth Festival is scheduled for here Saturday, June 24 at the Atlantic District Fairgrounds, Holloman Ave. in Ahoskie.

According to Ahoskie Town Councilman Ronald Gatling, who also serves as the chairman of the Youth Festival Planning Committee, this year’s theme is “Promoting Healthy Children and Healthy Communities.”

“We received a lot of input after last year’s event and used it to make this year’s festival that much better,” Gatling said. “We are excited as we begin to count down the last few weeks before the 2006 festival. We think we’ve got a great line-up of activities and programs for young people from all over the Roanoke-Chowan area to enjoy.”

In addition to the main attractions n amusement rides, pony rides and a petting zoo n the festival will feature health and safety activities, educational programs and displays, physical fitness, food, games and clowns.

Gatling is seeking corporate and community contributions to help offset the cost of putting on an event of this magnitude. Each educational vendor that registers for a space at the fairgrounds will be asked to donate a door prize. Those prizes will be awarded every 30 minutes throughout the 10 a.m. n 6 p.m. event.

Vendors n who must supply their own tents, tables and chairs n can set-up at the fairgrounds from 1-6 p.m. on Friday, June 23 and again from 8-9:30 a.m. on the morning of the festival.

The tentative schedule includes rides by Brooks Amusements, the “Kenya and Daisy the Clown” show, a petting zoo, pony and buggy rides, fire safety house, a bike rodeo by the Ahoskie Police Department, face painting, puppet show, Juggler Jim, Isabelle the Clown, activities provided by the ViQuest Center and Ahoskie Recreation Department and a 21-foot “Smokey the Bear” courtesy of the North Carolina Forest Service.

Local mascots “The Pig” (Piggly Wiggly), “Goldie” (Golden Skillet), “McGruff” (Ahoskie Police Department) and the Hertford County High School “Bear” will roam the grounds to interact with the young and the young at heart.

One of the main events is the Green Beret Parachute Team who will leap from a plane high above the fairgrounds and then put on a dazzling display of colors as they plummet towards earth.

Admission is free for ages 12 and under and $2 for those ages 13 and up. There is a $2 fee to park inside the fairgrounds.

For additional information, contact Gatling at 358-1071 or 209-5458.