Anyone interested in historic preservation and a good time will want to check out the first Summertime on the Branch on July 2.

The event will take place on the Washington Parish Frairgrounds and will raise funds for the Mile Branch Settlement, a collection of historic cabins maintained by the Fairground Association.

Entry is $5 per person.

The settlement includes cabins dating to the mid- and late-19th century models in addition to a corncrib, a fence and the Mt. Hermon School, the Half Moon Baptist Church and the Bankston General Store.

Kaye Branch, a volunteer with the association, is helping to organize the Summertime on the Branch event, and she said the event is meant as a fundraiser but also to get the community interested in local history.

“It’s just kind of gets everyone a little bit more involved and let them know what’s going on,” she said.

Branch said the event should bring out everyone, as the daylong affair will have attractions for everyone, young or old.

“We’re having an open car and truck and motorbike show,” she said. “We’re having arts and crafts vendors and lots of food. We’re having four bands that will play a bit of everything.”

Those bands include Remedy, Blindsided, Soul Jet and L.A. Chain Gang.

In addition, the historic cabins will be open for tours, and vendors will be selling fresh slices of watermelon.

“We’re also having what we call kiddie land,” Branch said. “We’re going to have some nice, big waterslides for the bigger kids and water slides and bounce houses for the smaller children.”

There will be crafts vendors and there will also be fireworks at 9 p.m.

Branch said she hopes the first year of the event will be well received.

“We’re hoping it’s going to be a wonderful day,” she said.

The fun begins at 11 a.m. and will wrap up at 10 p.m. No ice chests allowed.