The 20th annual North Carolina Whirligig Festival returns this weekend to historic downtown Wilson, as will thousands of visitors. The festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday with entertainment continuing until 9:30 p.m. or so and then noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Here are some pro tips for having a great experience for you and your family:

• PARKING -- It's often a challenge to park at the festival, but maybe a little more this year with the ballpark construction right next to Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park. So have a plan. Here is a guide to the public parking lots near the festival. Maybe try either the parking garage on Broad Street next to the library or the new paved lot on Barnes Street, near the train station. Both are a block away from the festival.
• FOOD -- The festival has nearly 50 vendors, everything from tacos to ribs to Asian fushion to Greek. If you want to walk around until inspiration hits, do so, but if you want to plot your meals, snacks, etc., here's a list of locations. If you want to walk around with a roasted turkey leg like a Medieval lord or lady, you do you. 
• DRINKS -- The Beer & Bones Zone is along Douglas Street, one block between Barnes and South streets. And several taverns are in the festival footprint. 
• ENTERTAINMENT -- The festival has four stages this year and you will always be close to live music or entertainment. The 'headliners' are Boy Band Review, 7:30 p.m. Saturday on the Whirligig Park Stage, which will cover everything from NKOTB to Jonas Brothers, One Direction, N'SYNC, and the Embers, 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the park, one of Wilson's favorite beach bands for decades. But who's to say Sofie Lynn, Brandon Hull or Furia Tropica won't have the concert of the weekend? Check out all the bands here and even hear samples of their music.
• FAMILY ACTIVITIES -- The Keith King BMX Show, Ed's Live Dinosaurs, and a Jeep show are just some of the attractions this year. See more details here. And this year is the return of the Cake Dive on Sunday, a chance for a few people to win big prizes by getting their hands a little dirty.