NEW BERLIN – New Berlin will celebrate its 49th annual Youth Days this weekend. The fun starts with the Miss Youth Days Pageant on Thursday, followed by fireworks and midway rides Friday, a child’s fair and parade Saturday and a food drive with a bike give-away on Sunday.

On Thursday, Youth Days kicks off at 6 p.m. in the Unadilla Valley High School auditorium with the Miss Youth Days Pageant and presentations of the ‘Youth of the Year’ and ‘Citizen of the Year’ awards.

The event is sponsored by the New Berlin Youth Days Committee and is organized by Sheila Randall.

“We hope the community will come show their support Thursday night as this year’s Youth Days gets into full swing. We’ll be announcing the Youth and Citizen of the Year following the first round,” said Randall.

The rest of the community carnival takes place through the weekend on the grounds of Milford Academy in downtown New Berlin on South Main Street.

Friday marks the opening of several main attractions, including the food booths which open at noon and midway rides that begin at 6 p.m.

Sand and water games will be held at the Millbrook Reservoir from 1 to 3 p.m. and the watermelon eating contest will start at the New Berlin Firehouse at 5 p.m. Live country music by the Country Limits Band will also begin at 6 p.m. along the midway,

Youth Days Committee President Larissa Hanslmaier said a major change from last year’s event is that the fireworks show behind Milford Academy will take place Friday night at dark instead of Saturday.

Another change in this year’s celebration is that all adult rides will be a dollar and children’s rides will be 50 cents. Also for the first time, this year’s organizers have planned a special “Kid’s Fair” Saturday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.