The City of Hughson is home to just over 7,500 residents, but their small town is prepared to welcome almost double that number this weekend at the 33rd Hughson Fruit and Nut Festival.

The Fruit and Nut Festival is a two-day event that will take place this Saturday and Sunday along Hughson Avenue. It is aimed at offering free family fun for residents of Hughson and visitors from far and wide. Typically, the festival brings over 5,000 guests each day, but more activities and events have the planners expecting a festival that’s bigger and better than ever.

This year’s festival will feature regular attractions such as live music, a car show, kid tractor pulls, a petting zoo, bounce houses and more. Additionally, a beer garden will be on hand to serve adults amongst the nearly 30 food trucks registered to attend.

“There is something here for everybody, whether it’s the balloons or the face painting for the kids or the drinks for the adults and the food,” said Melissa Worley, assistant office manager at the Hughson Chamber of Commerce. “My family and I have been coming to this for years and it’s a real fun event for my kids and just for the whole community.”

Aside from the food trucks, many of the businesses in downtown Hughson will be open over the weekend, including Coco’s Taqueria, Slick Fork, Ranch Hand, Hamilton’s Café, Golden Bowl, Bob’s Café and Hughson Asian Kitchen.

With good food and drinks, there will also be plenty of good music. On each side of the festival, there will be stages that will host live performances from local acts including Crossman Connection, Rob Ely as Elvis, Gary Gervase and the Kickstart Blues, Thunder Road and G’psy Soul.

In addition to the annual car show, this year’s festival will also have trucks, RVs and tractors on display. According to Worley, there are already 50 classic cars registered for the car show, with more expected to be added with registration remaining open through the morning of the event. There are $20 pre-registration fees and $25 registration fees the day of the event.

Amongst all the activities will be the staple of the festival: fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and other homegrown goods from local farmers and vendors, an ode to the Hughson’s agricultural roots.

The celebration will kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturday with an opening ceremony and performances from Hughson High and Junior High bands. Saturday’s festivities will last until 6 p.m. On Sunday morning, the fun will continue with a pancake breakfast at the Hughson Community Theater at 7 a.m., sponsored by the Hughson Oilers youth football program. Downtown events will get underway at 10 a.m. and will last till 5 p.m. The classic car show will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Entry to the event as well as many of the activities are entirely free of charge.

“It’s a big event,” Worley said. “It’s a really big deal for our small town.”