Festivities kick off Friday night in Frog Level, or as residents know the town today, Prosperity.

Prosperity’s Hoppin’ returns for an eighth year of food and fun celebrating the area and its people.

One of the star performers Friday, in addition to street dance music from local rockers Squirrel, will be returning after a sell-out debut in 2008—frog legs.

The Prosperity Business Association will be frying up frog legs along with other food offerings it will have for sale from 6-9 p.m.

“We sold out in record time,” Town Manager Karen Livingston says of last year’s frog leg phenomenon. This year, Livingston says, the association has doubled the order, purchasing 20 cases of the legs from the local Piggly Wiggly.

Tommy Easterby, Piggly Wiggly manager and president of the association, will be helping fry up the feast, and recommends the festival to anyone interested in the local culture.

“We just hope people come and discover what we already know about our town,” Easterby says. “Prosperity is what small towns should be, and a festival like Prosperity’s Hoppin’ just showcases our community spirit.”

That community spirit will be displayed in more than just frog leg plates.

The street dance Friday will last from 6 p.m. until midnight. In addition to the offerings of the association, food will also be sold by The Palms.

In a new feature this year, the town approved beer sales at the street dance. Diane’s Stable Steak House will be selling beer in a cordoned-off area to the side of the stage which will be set up on the town’s basketball court. Those that wish to drink will show ID and be fitted with a wristband upon entering the area.

There will be activity wristbands for the young as well.

Children’s activities and rides will be open Friday night and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

For a $5 overall charge, those wearing wristbands can play all they want on five inflatables, a train, a rock wall and a new ride, The Whizzer (similar to a teacup ride, but with extra spin).

The first activity on the slate for Saturday is a 5K road race beginning at 8 a.m. Walkers and runners are welcome to the race which leaves from the Town Center, 250 School Drive.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, as the rides open back up for business, there will be entertainment, activities and other vendors in motion too.

Dancers from Griffin Dance Academy will fill the stage from 10 a.m.-11 a.m.

The Newberry Car Buffs opens its car show at the same time. The show will feature a 50/50 drawing, with various prizes for those that enter, a $40 prize for the car that is the “People’s Choice” and a $25 prize for the car that wins “Mayor’s Choice.”

A free youth project table will be provided by Hamm Hardware.

Starting around 11:15 a.m., other area youth will be showing off their musical skills on the stage as local music teacher Mike Reid brings his students onstage.

The car awards are set to be announced around noon as the festival wraps up at 1 p.m.