WARNER ROBINS -- The second annual International City Fall Festival will be bigger than the first, said Warner Robins Downtown Development Authority vice chairwoman and festival coordinator Gena DeBoe.

“A lot of people became aware of the festival last year after the festival,” DeBoe said. “This year, they’ve been marking their calendars.”

The Warner Robins Downtown Development Authority wasn’t able to extend the festival past one day, DeBoe said, but added a new barbecue contest, a larger children’s area, concerts from a rising country star and six other music acts, and even more vendors.

“There’s just going to be so much for them to do all day long,” DeBoe said.

The festival, which the DDA revived last year after a decade-long absence, will be held 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday in the Commercial Circle area.

“With the monies raised from the festival, we will be able to make the area more appealing to businesses, families and colleges nearby, and give our military something to be proud of right at the door to (Robins Air Force) base!” states the homepage of the festival website, www.wrdda.org/festival.

The headliner of the festival is Colby Dee, a young singer whose “Ragtop Girl” single has been a hit on the Internet and social media. Her first album is expected to be released early next year.

“She is awesome,” DeBoe said. “Her roots are here in Warner Robins. ... She’s as pretty inside as she is outside.”

The barbecue competition also is expected to be popular. The competition began as an opportunity for local organizations, especially police and fire departments, to earn bragging rights until next year’s competition.

DeBoe said it’s now a competition for all barbecue cookers. Teams will cook in four categories -- pork shoulder, pork ribs, chicken and beef brisket.

“We’re still getting last-minute entries, but we can use some more,” DeBoe said.

Other activities at the festival include a children’s activity center, a Georgia authors booth and an art area, where artists from the Houston Arts Alliance will give young artists hands-on advice.

The proceeds from the children’s center will go to the Rainbow House Children’s Resource Center, and proceeds from the art area will go to local art programs.

This year’s festival will not have a gala and silent auction the DDA had hoped would be held the same week. Instead, DeBoe said they will be held Feb. 2 at the Wellston Center.

“It was going to be rushed,” she said. “We didn’t have time to get attention on the silent auction pieces.”

The festival will also be missing the car show that was part of it last year.

“We did have some interest, but it was disappointing,” DeBoe said, adding more public interest and involvement would bring the activity back for future festivals.

If the activities aren’t enough to keep patrons busy, there’s plenty of vendor booths, DeBoe said. She said it will be a great early Christmas shopping opportunity.

“We probably have at least 50 percent more vendors,” DeBoe said. “We’re really, really focused on our vendors this year. They’re central to making this a fabulous festival.”

To contact writer Christina M. Wright, call 256-9685.