Brett Eldredge comes from Nashville to star in the opening weekend’s Lehigh Spring Festival.

The Lehigh Acres Spring Festival promises to be even better than ever this year with concerts, featuring singers who have cut their own CDs and are moving up in the entertainment world.

And this year there will be a gala fireworks display, something Lehigh has not seen for a while as last year’s Fourth of July display was called off due to inclement weather.

The Spring Festival, which begins Friday night, March 18 continues to Saturday, March 26 with a parade down the center of town ending up at Veterans Park where a whole afternoon of events is planned.

A midway is open each night of the festival and there is plenty of food from vendors, both locally and in the carnival-like midway.

It’s the 38th year for the festival which was held to bid farewell to snowbirds who left Lehigh Acres in the spring, always before Easter.

Krystal Walters, from Lehigh, is featured in one of the three major concerts of the nine-day festival. She was last year’s adult winner in the Festival Idol Contest and has devoted her new career to singing.

The festival has grown to a nine-day event with all kinds of entertainment, new, never seen before, and some of the more popular events that have been brought back.

The featured concert at the beginning of the week brings Brett Eldredge from Nashville to entertain and sing some of the music on his latest CD. He goes on the outside stage at Veterans Park Saturday night, March 19 at 8:30 p.m.

His introduction into country musical came when he was a college student and was attending a concert in Illinois where his cousin, Terry, a veteran of Dolly Parton’s band and now a member of the Grascals, was playing with a band called the Sidemen, and a mesmerized Eldredge was in the crowd.

“There was something so real and truthful about the songs they were playing,” he said. What happened next came as a shock.

Eldredge was called to come up on stage and told to pick a song to play with the band. He selected “Amarillo by Morning.” He said that when he heard the fiddle introduction, chills shot up his spine.

The Beatles show will make you think you’re listening to the actual British Invasion group that made great hits in the 1960s. The Nowhere Band has become a favorite nationwide with its tribute to the Beatles.

“I sang it for the crowd there and it was a magical experience. That was the point when I thought ‘This is it. This is something I’ve got to do.'”

“As a songwriter, my aim is to portray a little bit of me and my life along with the stories of other people and turn them into something that can really touch somebody’s heart and soul,” he says.

Judging from audience reaction at the many gigs where he has performed, that seems to be happening.

Brett’s single “Raymond” is currently in the top 30 and continues to climb on the country music charts.

Brett will be singing many of his other hits such as “Thirsty” and “Ain’t Gotta Be Love.” Check him out at www.bretteldredge.com.

On Sunday night, March 20, those who attend the festival, will get to hear Krystal Walters perform in a concert that begins at 8 p.m. Walters, who is from Lehigh Acres, was last year’s adult winner of the Festival Spring Idol Contest, and has gone on to pursue her promising career.

Walters is an accomplished pianist and acoustic guitar player and also a violinist; however, it is her fantastic voice and high energy that will be lighting up the stage, says Debbie Jackson, the festival’s event coordinator and member of the board which plans the festival.

She has lived in Lehigh since she was six and won her first singing competition when she was 14 while performing in a talent show on a cruise ship.

After winning last year’s title at the festival, she was asked to perform for a worldwide church conference in Kansas City where she performed for more than 4,000 people, receiving a standing ovation, something that likely will happen again in Lehigh.

In December of 2009, she was invited to sing on stage with gospel singer Sandi Patty during her Christmas performance at the Barbara B. Mann performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers before thousands.

Following Krystal’s performance, there will be a gala fireworks display beginning between 9 and 9:30 p.m. over the park.

“It will be spectacular,” said Liz Eilf, the festival’s publicity chairman.

The third big draw as for musical performances will be the appearance of The Nowhere Band. It is scheduled for 8:30 p.m., Friday, March 25 beginning at 8:30 p.m.

If you love Beatles music, you will love to hear these guys play,” said event chairman Jackson.

While covering the full spectrum of the Beatles’ long and varied career, the Nowhere Band creates an unparalleled, entirely live (no pre-recorded material), reproduction of 60s Beatles performances blending period costumes and authentic instruments with modern lighting and an abundantly talented quartet to create an experience any true Beatles fan simply can’t afford to miss.

Jackson said the concert is not about the lights and equipment however, it is about the smile and memories the music will bring back to life.

One of the highlights of the festival is the Idol Contest which is held throughout the week for youngsters and adults. This year, the age requirements have changed, said Vicki Culver, who oversees this popular event.

The youngsters must be between the ages of eight and 16 and the adults from 17 and over, she said.

Culver went on to say that Lehigh has a lot of talented singers and many of the good ones in years past who may not have won are invited back to participate in the rehearsals.

“We are surprised every year with the turnout and the quality of the talent,” she said. Entrants must apply by sending an application to Culver so there can be rehearsals before the actual contest begins.

To get an entry form, go to: www.lehighspringfestival.com and fill it out and have it returned to Culver at 9 Homestead Rd. in Lehigh by March 7.

Those attending the idol contests determine who continues each night and by the end of the week, a junior and adult winner is named. They ride on the floats in the parade on the final day along with other dignitaries.

There are various other groups of entertainers, contests and other activities including best cooking dishes, best pets, best bubble gum blowers and others events.

This year, the bubble gum blowing contest will be on the opening night where in the past, it has usually been on the first Saturday.

There are also the pageants for the Miss Spring Festival competition and other others such as the little Prince and the little Miss pageants. There are also contests for the best baby crawling contests and more.

While bleachers will be set up, pageant planners suggest you bring lawn chairs and blankets if the evenings are cool to attend the concerts.

The Spring Festival is asking for $3 to enter Veterans Park where there is ample parking. Proceeds from the fee are divided with the local soccer association and the Spring Festival Committee.

A full list of events and their times and the names of those who have donated money to sponsor the events will appear in The Lehigh Acres Citizen prior to the event. The full list of activities will also appear on the paper’s online edition, Lehighacrescitizen.com.