Cord Jackson of Lampasas placed second in the annual Spring Ho Hayloft Party Tuesday night. Predicted rains not withstanding, a variety of events are planned the latter part of the festival week. PHOTO BY RICHARD AKRIDGE The past four days were a prelude to the excitement and fun that await residents and visitors during the final three days of the 2010 Spring Ho Festival.

Arts and crafts, a carnival with rides and games, country and western dances plus a grand parade are among the myriad events offered this weekend for festival-goers.

Today begins with activities for the younger set but involves all ages of spectators. Headline events include the downtown Pet Parade and Diaper Derby, and Kids’ Day Activities at Gavin Garrett Soccer Park, along with face painting, water polo, balloon figures and a corn-shucking contest.

The BBQ Cookoff gets under way, and cookers will bring their grills to the parking lot behind the Lampasas County Office Building for the popular competition.

Arts and crafts and concessions are available at the numerous booths that line both sides of Sul- phur Creek at W.M. Brook Park, and the carnival will open at 6 p.m.

A dance will close the night’s activities. Kyle Park with Joe Manuel and Friends will entertain on Courtyard Square beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the gate, and the event concludes at midnight.

Runners will lace up their sneakers for the annual 10K and one-mile runs that kick off Saturday morning at 8 a.m. at Hancock Park.

The Spring Ho Grand Parade, featuring Wanda Meyers as parade marshal, will begin at 11 a.m., offering floats, clowns, horses and plenty of music, and the Arts and Crafts Fair will continue Saturday at W.M. Brook Park. Water sports also will take place Saturday, as well as washer pitching and horseshoe pitching.

The Saturday night Kiwanis Club Street Dance, featuring Jarrett Schaub of Lampasas and opening act Payton Bayer and the Rosewood Pistols, will begin at 8 p.m. at the courthouse bandstand.

To close out the festival, the carnival will offer rides and games beginning at noon Sunday, and shoppers will have their final chance to peruse the offerings at the Arts and Crafts Fair.