What’s better than a warm buttered biscuit with mayhaw jelly? A FREE warm buttered biscuit with mayhaw jelly. Get one Saturday, May 18, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.  at The Starks Mayhaw Festival 107 Hwy. 109 North in Starks, Louisiana.

Mayhaw Festival fun begins Thursday, May 16 at 4 p.m. and includes carnival rides and plenty of entertainment and vendors. Shon Branham will perform on Thursday, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will be followed by ventriloquist Micah LeClercq, the Puppet Pulpit. Karaoke begins at 7 p.m. The festival closes at 10 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Friday, May 17, the festival opens with a bike parade, scavenger hunt and more entertainment from Shon Branham. Reid Soria, Autism Sings is on at 5 p.m. Mark Reeves & Twisted X take over at 6 p.m. Roy Boy Collins headlines at 8 p.m.

See the jelly contest on Saturday, May 18 after grabbing a biscuit. Johnny Smith of Singer, Louisiana will demonstrate tree grafting at 9 a.m.

“The crop was fantastic this year,” he said, up 50 percent, pretty incredible especially considering the production was down by 70 percent because of the weather last year.

Smith said his grafting has resulted in super varieties that have certain characteristics.

“You can usually find one tree that produces better than others, graft it and fill up your orchard with it,” he said.

The characteristics he looks for are a late bloom date, disease resistance and other qualities.

He and his wife Debbie “put up” 72-and-a-half gallons of berries Tuesday. They’ll have berries, trees, juice and jelly at the festival.

The car and motorcycle show is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The auction is 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Shon Branham performs at 3 p.m. The Simmons Family perform at 5:30 p.m. Larry Carter & Calvary Apostolic Church go on stage at 6 p.m. and the Right Road Quartet at 7 p.m.

Keitha Brady said she has filled up every single vendor spot, and is trying to make room for more.

“We have vendors with food, authors with books, people selling handmade stringed instruments, stained glass, socks designed by local artists, custom tumblers, mesh and flower crafts, scentsy products and homemade jewelry including permanent jewelry,” Brady said. “Most importantly we’ll have plenty of mayhaw berries, juice, syrup and jelly.”

“Rain or shine, come have a good time,” said Katy Gillis, Mayhaw Festival chair. We have a large pavilion and the Sheriff’s Office will be there with its roomy tent.