CLINTON - It is about this time every year that Marian Brisard, the acting executive director for the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, turns into a weather junkie.

"It looks like it could be wet," she said of the start of the 16th annual MayDays Festival in downtown Clinton. "I don't mind it being cool, but I don't want any rain."

The festival will start Thursday with many of the same features from past MayDays festivals. The Jon Luehr Spectacular Attractions carnival will open at 5 p.m. Thursday and continue through Sunday afternoon. The Gator McCluskey Band will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday.

On Friday, Sound and Light Creation will entertain from 6 to 9 p.m. The free big-screen movie will be "Shrek III."

The Hitmen, playing classic rock tunes, will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday. A three-hour karaoke session will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Also during the weekend, a local skateboarding group will perform and there will be a rock-climbing wall.

Mayor Ed Wollet looks forward to the event every year because it provides Clinton residents with entertainment features they don't have every day.

"It also serves to kick off our tourist season," Wollet said. "It kind of gets you in the mood for spring and summer and it has become a nice tradition for Clinton."

Brisard said May Days is a community event that seems to grow every year.

"We have some great food and several of the local groups and organizations will be holding dinners and fundraisers," Brisard said. "We have some new things, but generally, just a lot of the old features that everyone seems to like will return."

Advance tickets are on sale at several Clinton merchants and the Clinton Chamber of Commerce.

Kevin Barlow can be reached at kbarlow@pantagraph.com.