GLASGOW — Close to 10,000 people are expected to visit Edmonton this weekend for the sesquicentennial celebration.

Edmonton and Metcalfe County were founded 150 years ago.

Officials chose to recognize the sesquicentennial of the city and county rather than waiting until the bicentennial because they wanted to not only celebrate the history of the community, but create something local youth will remember.

“Those of us who have worked on the celebration want most of all our children — those who will carry on the legacy of those gone before — to recognize the accomplishments of past generations of Metcalfe County and to realize that the progress that made possible the lives we enjoy now,” said Mary Alice Yokley, a sesquicentennial committee member. “With the explosion of iPods, iPads, Facebook, IMs, and ‘tweeting’ demanding so much of our young people’s time and interest, how can we wait another whole generation to inspire and to involve our young people in community awareness and personal responsibility for making our fine little county even better? It is often said that we must know our past in order to know what works in moving forward.”

The Edmonton-Metcalfe County community is probably like most southern small towns, said Gaye Shaw, executive director of the Edmonton-Metcalfe County Chamber of Commerce.

“Most everyone who moves here from another state comments on the friendliness and helpfulness of the people here,” she said. “For the most part, we are one big happy family that works together for the betterment of our community.”

The Sesquicentennial Committee began planning the celebration in the spring.

“A tremendous amount of work has gone into this huge celebration,” Shaw said.

Those who attend the celebration “will be amazed” by the talent featured, said Yokley.

“Every hour of the three days will be packed with history, first-rate performances and just plain fun,” she said.

Festivities begin Thurs-day at 6 p.m. with the Edmonton-Metcalfe Sesquicentennial Pageants at the Bowling Park gym.

A welcome address and opening ceremony will take place at noon on Friday and will coincide with the start of an old-fashioned citywide sidewalk sale and Frontier Days at the Metcalfe County Fair-grounds.

Musical performances by local artists will begin at 12:30 p.m. featuring the Metcalfe County Middle School and High School chorus, Jessica Taylor, Gilbert Curry, Ronnie Dial, Ben Hubbard and the Kentucky Ridge Runners.

At 2 p.m. the contents for a time capsule, which will be buried at 6 p.m. Sunday, will be shown, followed by a penny auction at 3 p.m. and a performance by the Clinton County Cloggers at 4 p.m.

At 6:30 p.m. Willow-Shade will perform, followed by The Kentucky HeadHunters at 7:30 p.m. and Black Stone Cherry at 9 p.m.

The celebration continues on Saturday at 8 a.m. with booths, exhibits, displays, citywide sidewalk days and Frontier Days.

Events planned for Saturday:

• Veterans Breakfast at 8 a.m.

• Veterans Recognition at 9:30 a.m.

• Sesquicentennial Par-ade at noon

• Antique Quilt Display from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.

• Fun events, contests, games from 1 to 5 p.m.

• Musical performances from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Concert by Twelve43 at 6 p.m.

• Concert by Clay Under-wood at 7 p.m.

• Fireworks display at 9 p.m.

Events planned for Sunday:

• Hot air balloon rides at the fairgrounds at 8 a.m.

• Frontier Breakfast at the fairgrounds from 8  to 10 a.m.

• Inspirational choir performance at 10 a.m.

• Communitywide church service at 11 a.m.

• Dinner on the Court-yard Grounds at noon

• Community Choir performance at 1:30 p.m.

• Cowboy Church at fairgrounds at 2 p.m.

• Local gospel groups perform from 3 to 6 p.m.

• Metcalfe County High School Homecoming for classes from 1957 to 1994 at the Metcalfe County Middle School gymnasium at 3 p.m.

• Burying of the time capsule at 6 p.m.

All concerts are free.

For further information, call  (270) 432-3222.