PHOTOS: Downtown Welcome Party, Kickoff to Funfest for VW, a Big Hit

Click here for a gallery of photos from the welcome party. We've also got a high-resolution gallery on our Facebook page, located here.

The three-day event headquartered at Mid-America Motorworks along North US 45 in Effingham kicked off Friday.

Funfest annually brings hundreds for Volkswagens and their owners to the city. A variety of events are hosted by Mike and Laurie Yager of Mid-America for their customers, but many of the events are open to Effingham area residents. A fun dome retail center will be open each day as will the Yagers' MY Garage Museum.

The weekend event kicked off Friday evening with a Downtown Welcome Party put on by the Effingham Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Volkswagons decended on downtown at about 5:15 for a welcome parade attended by hundreds with music by Russ Howard, a performance by Jansen's Dance Center, games for the kids and more.

Saturday activities will include more celebrity judging throughout the day, the MY Garage Museum open from 8am to 6pm, a club contest assisted by the Effingham Convention and Visitors Bureau where the City's "Have Pig, Will Travel" program takes on an added dimension. Clubs are invited to decorate or dress a pig to match your VW Club's personality. Take photos with your pig at Funfest all weekend and post them to Mid-America's social media with the hashtag #funfestpig. The Tourism Office will select a winner Sunday from all of the photos on Mid-America's Facebook page. The official opening ceremony is set for 10am Saturday. A celebrity choice awards ceremony will take place at 3:30pm.

Saturday night entertainment this year includes Garrett Biggs and The Highway 40 Band at 5pm, and then music by country star Drew Baldridge at 8pm at the amphitheater. Gates will open at 7:30pm. Sunday activities will be focused on the morning, including presentation of the final Celebrity Choice awards at 11am.