AURORA — Planning is under way for the annual Aurora Fossil Festival, a highlight of the spring season in Beaufort County.

The festival will be held the weekend of May 23-25, according to Gail Phelps, president of the Aurora Richland Chamber of Commerce. Phelps also serves as festival co-chair along with Wayne Sawyer and Bridgett Bonner.

“Make sure you pencil the date in on your schedule to join us for another year of fun,” Phelps said. “We always look forward to everyone coming to visit Aurora.”

The festival kicks off on a Friday evening with an opening ceremony, to be followed by the Little Miss and Mr. Fossil pageant. A street dance with music by the Mikele Buck Band will be held from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The May 24 schedule includes a veterans’ breakfast, arts and crafts vendors, food sales, a 5K race, lawnmower pulls featuring the Hyde County Mini Pullers, bus tours of PotashCorp-Aurora mines, carnival rides, educational exhibits, fossil digs, car show, tours of the Aurora Fossil Museum and a concert by Old Southern Moonshine Revival, according to Phelps.

A highlight of the May 24 festivities is the fossil parade, organized this year by Linnie Battle. Local school, church, civic and business groups are invited to participate.

And since the parade is also a celebration of Memorial Day, Phelps is hoping folks will be in a patriotic mood.

“I would love for people to ride their bikes and pull their wagons in the parade, all dressed up in red, white and blue,” she said.

The Fossil Festival will continue May 25 with what is billed as a gospel gala. A church service will begin at 10 a.m., to be followed by gospel singing until mid-afternoon, Phelps said.

The Aurora Fossil Festival is sponsored by the chamber, with financial support from local businesses, including PotashCorp-Aurora.

For more information about festival events, call the chamber office at 252-322-4405.