St. Bernard Prep is just days away from unveiling its 33rd Bloomin’ Festival, with a crowd expected to again top 20,000.

The two-day event, Saturday and Sunday, gets under way at 9 a.m. each day and closes at 5 p.m.

“More than 170 artisans are set to participate in this year’s show, which is rated one of the best in the Southeast,” Bloomin’ Festival Director Joyce Nix said in a press release. “After all, where can one possibly go to enjoy great food, buy handmade items, and view the world famous Ave Maria Grotto in one weekend.”

Artists and crafts people are carefully selected and come from across the region, nationally and locally to exhibit and sell their creations. Last year an estimated 22,000-plus people attended the festival.

“It’s a packed out show,” Nix said. “We have been inundated with calls and mail since October and were booked by Dec. 31. We have a wide variety of arts and crafts to include pottery, quilts, jewelry, cypress lawn furniture, plants, clothing, glassblowing, wood turning, watercolors and acrylic paintings, ceramics, signage, and much more.”

“The show has grown in size and the capacity crowds place an added demand for volunteers to help the weekend run smoothly,” Nix said. “We have a great team made up of athletes and coaches who assist with parking to ensure traffic flows smoothly in addition to backup from the Cullman Police Department. It’s through the efforts of the volunteers, which include our faculty, staff, parents, students and friends, that the weekend is a success – many hands make light work.”

The monks at St. Bernard will also have thousands of loaves of their delicious Monk Break for sale. The bread appears Saturday morning and is quick to sell out.

“I understand they will have 3,000 loaves, which may not last long. It’s always a hit with the crowd,” Nix said.

Plenty of entertainment will be on hand both days. The Cotton Picking Kids, the St. Bernard Choir and the St. Bernard Jazz Band are all scheduled to perform.

Ave Maria Grotto, affectionately known as Little Jerusalem in Miniature, is offering a discounted special admission price of only $3 per person the entire weekend.

At 5 p.m. on Sunday, St. Bernard Prep will give away a slate of valuable prizes. The first prize will be a 2017 Jeep Patriot. Other prizes include an iPad Mini, Beats Studio Headphones, Fitbit Flex 2, and Roku Express.

Keep up with Bloomin’ Festival by liking the event’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/bloominfestival, or visit their website at www.bloominfestival.com.