FERRIDAY, La. &045; Sixteen days and counting means the members of the Delta Music Festival’s committee are starting to feel the crunch.

At what have now become weekly meetings, the committee hashed out some of the details Tuesday, including a better way to monitor who is admitted.

In past years people have wandered in through unguarded gates and cheated the system without paying the $2 admission fee. This year, the April 2 festival will distribute a wristband to everyone upon payment. Hand stamps were formerly used.

&uot;Anybody that doesn’t have an arm band on has not paid,&uot; committee chair Judith Bingham said.

Vendors will receive four wristbands. Bingham said between 20 and 30 vendors had already signed up and more are still calling.

Food vendors can set up for $100, commercial booths are $50 and arts and crafts booths are $30. Vendors wishing to sign up should contact Bingham at the Delta Music Museum.

Committee members also discussed gathering enough classic cars for the annual car show during the festival. The group, River City, which has provided cars in the past has another show that weekend. So far about 12 cars have signed up.

The festival will start at 9:30 a.m. with a welcome from Mayor Gene Allen and master of ceremonies Clyde Ray Webber.

Local talent including the St. Marks Baptist Church Mass Choir and a choral group from First United Pentecostal will open the day. At noon the Louisiana Cavalcade All-Stars will perform. The All-Stars include five repeat performers from past festivals.

After the Cavalcade Clarence &uot;Frogman&uot; Henry will perform for 30 minutes. Next, Secretary of State Fox McKeithen’s daughter Marianne Garon will induct Henry and Irma Thomas into the Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame.

Thomas, famous for her New Orleans soul music, will close out the day.

Vendors can start setting up Friday night, and Ferriday Police will close the streets in the festival area at 6 p.m. Friday.

In case of rain, the committee is checking into moving the festival to the old junior high building, now controlled by the town.

The festival will end around 4 p.m.