For nearly 70 years, the Gwynn’s Island Festival has brought residents together and attracted visitors to the island and this Saturday’s festival is anticipated to carry on the tradition.

The 69th annual festival will kick off Friday afternoon with the annual chicken dinner at the Gwynn’s Island Civic Center and the main festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on the center’s grounds.

Event co-chair Jan Bassett said that this year’s festival will focus on local arts, crafts and fine arts. There will be no commercial vendors at this year’s event and only one retail vendor. 

New, expanded games for children will be added, courtesy of a generous donation by Mike Congrove of Oyster Seed Holdings, LLC, on Gwynn’s Island, she said.

“This year, we’re going to have an ‘Extreme Rush’ obstacle course,” Bassett said. This will include an 80-foot, two-lane, blow-up course for both individuals and teams to...