COAL GROVE — Family Fun Days returns on Monday with local and regional bands, food trucks, games for the children at Paul Porter Park in Coal Grove and, of course, fireworks.

“Now that we are out of the COVID era, we are trying to make it bigger and better,” Coal Grove Betterment Club member Jay Sherman said. They are bringing in bigger musical acts like Hair Supply and Hannah Wheeler while still showcasing local talent and added the event’s first 5K race.

They also made an effort to keep Family Fun Days as affordable as they can so families can attend.

“This year, we are doing quite a few free yard games for kids. It can be expensive for families to do things,” he said. “The Betterment Club has brought their food costs down, so it’s affordable for families.”

The club will be selling hot dogs, chips and drinks.

There will also be several food vendors including a BBQ truck. There will also be several vendors set up under canopies.

The event kicks off at 5 p.m. Monday with an opening ceremony, VFW flag salute and the National Anthem sung by Brandon Bazell.

And at 7 p.m., there will be the events first ever Freedom 5K

“We looked at a lot of stuff but we wanted to limit it to what we could handle,” Sherman said, adding that the three-day event is a lot of work and most of the Betterment Club members have full-time jobs. “We don’t want to wear everybody out.”

The weekend will be filled with musical acts and Sherman said that sponsors really stepped up this year and the club had the most money they’ve ever had for bands.

He said they have a lot of local artists and some regional artists with big followings.

On Monday, the music starts at 6 p.m. with a performance by Adam Crank and then Courtney Jo Band at 7 p.m.

On Tuesday, Rodney Crisp Honky Tonk Band performs at 5 p.m., Aaron Mowery at 6 p.m. and Hair Supply performs at 8 p.m.

“Hair Supply is out of Charleston. They’ve played the Paramount Arts Center and they bring in a lot of people,” Sherman said. “They are an 80s band and they dress the part, they play the part. They are just awesome. They are really cool.”

On Wednesday, Tyler Waller performs at 5 p.m., Sheldon Road at 6 p.m. and Hannah Wheeler performing at 8 p.m.

“Hannah Wheeler is from Lexington and is a country artist. I think she is going to be a big, rising star,” Sherman said. “She has a lot of followers on TikTok and Facebook.”

At 10 p.m. on Wednesday, the annual fireworks display will be launched from the Little League ball park.

The first Family Fun Days was in 1978 when the Coal Grove Betterment Club decided they wanted to put on a one-day event to bring families together and have old-fashioned fun. There was an egg toss, three-legged race, fireman’s brigade, a water balloon toss, a greasy pig and a greasy pole challenge.

Over the past four decades, Family Fun Days has grown into a three-day event that continues with the fun and fireworks, but it has evolved to have an emphasis on honoring those who have served in the military, celebrating America’s freedom and showcasing local and regional music acts.