Coplay Community Days has been experiencing growing pains.

"It's a good headache to have," said festival Chairman Steve Burker. "[The festival] It's not necessarily getting bigger. But I'm always going to make it better."

To that end, a number of changes are being made for this year's festival, set to take place Aug. 22-24.

The food court is being moved. Instead of having several food vendors behind the pavilion and the others strung out down by the pool, all the food vendors will be in one location, in front of the pavilion.

Burker said he believes the food vendors will do even better than in the past because virtually everyone will have to pass the food court to get to the pavilion for the entertainment.

Behind the pavilion will be a 30-foot by 40-foot tent with tables and chairs for people to sit and enjoy the entertainment via a five-foot TV screen.

"People would plunk down chairs everywhere. You couldn't even walk," said Burker. "We made these changes to break up that congestion."

Burker hopes the changes, especially the tent, will also add to the experience of the festival.

"It's going to bring [people] closer to the entertainment. It's going to be like part of the pavilion," Burker said. "You're going to enjoy the bands more. You're going to see them more."

In addition, short brick walls holding shrubbery have been eliminated and additional paving has been put down around the pavilion. Community Days paid the bill.

Burker said he and Co-chair John Schreiner put their heads together to come up with these solutions. Because the park and pavilion are borough property, Burker and Schreiner presented their ideas to members of borough council, who approved them.

"Over the last two years, we, Coplay Community Days, have provided more than $25,000 in renovations to the parkway," Burker said. Last year, for example, the pavilion roof was painted.

The pavilion was built in 1970 and Burker said he doesn't believe any renovations were done to it since.

"If you let it go, it deteriorates," he said. "These improvements and renovations benefit the festival and the public."

Another change is that the craft area has grown by leaps and bounds. Last year, the festival hosted 11 crafters. This year, 48 were confirmed as of Aug. 14.

The crafters will be set up down by the Saylor Cement Kilns, which is where they had been years ago. Last year, they had were at the outside of the pool fence, along the walkway.

The Kids Zone is also moving inside the pool. Admission to the pool is free except for Sunday, when dog owners bringing their pooches to the pool will be required to pay a $1 fee. Mermaid Avalon, who made her debut last year, returns.

Burker said this change to the Kids Zone location came about because the pool is "where the action is ... because that's where the mermaid's going to be and that's where the Dip-N-Dance is."

Unfortunately rides will not return this year. The ride company has to be set up and ready to go at the West End Fair by noon on Sunday. Breaking down and leaving Coplay Saturday night was just "too much," Burker said.

The Emmaus Run Inn/IRT 5K Loop Run returns Saturday at 5 p.m., offering cash prizes and an awards ceremony.

New food this year includes pot roast sandwiches, eggplant fries, funnel cake, fries, homemade pierogies and wiener schnitzel.

Burker said people asked for wine coolers, twisted tea and Mike's Hard Lemonade so those beverages will be available in addition to beer and soft drinks.

An ATM machine will be located on the premises to assist anyone short of cash who wants to buy something to eat or drink.

All the rock bands are back.

The Aardvarks play Friday night, Lucky 7 is on Saturday night and the Large Flowerheads and Elvis Impersonator Andy Svreck return Sunday.

Crazy Hearts will provide this year's country music.

"They are probably the most popular country band in the Lehigh Valley," Burker said.

Johnny Dee has retired so polka music Sunday afternoon will be by Grammy award winner Walt Groller and his Orchestra.

Groller will play tributes to Johnny Dee who will take the stage with him for a few songs, Burker said.

"Johnny Dee got started playing for Walt Groller," he said,

All the bands will take advantage of the same sound system by City Entertainment. This, Burker said, saves time because bands don't need to bring their own speakers.

It will also alleviate congestion because vehicles and sound equipment won't need to block walkways during set up or between bands.

Burker thanked all the volunteers who make the festival possible, allowing community groups to raise funds.

"We're 100 percent volunteer driven," he said.