The 2008 Bloomin’ Temple Festival kicks off today with the opening of the carnival at the Santa Fe Depot parking lot at 6 p.m.

The carnival isn’t the only way to relax over the weekend either. Beginning Friday, the festival will include nightly concerts, fun runs, exhibits at the Railroad and Heritage Museum, art and craft vendors and much more.

Wristbands for the event are $3 at any participating CEFCO store and $5 at the festival gates.

Headlining the CEFCO/Pepsi stage on Friday is Jani Lane, the original singer and songwriter for Warrant.

Saturday night’s headliner is Texas music artist Roger Creager.

Sunday features several rhythm and blues artists such as Dysfunkshun Junkshun, Busta’moovalators and Binge.

Returning this year is the acclaimed Bloomin Idiot Contest at 3 p.m. Saturday on the Gazebo stage.

“We really get people to come out of the woodwork for this contest,” said Danny Dunn, organizer of the outlandish event.

The contest features three categories: juggling, humorous poem and costume contest.

“The odds are if someone can actually juggle more than 30 seconds they’re good enough to make it,” Dunn said.

The poems cover every subject from “the macabre to funny,” Dunn noted.

When it comes to the costume contest, Dunn hopes to see less “large men in drag and a few original ideas this year.”

However, when it comes to viewing the ridiculous contest, Dunn will not be left out.

“I’ll be there front and center on Saturday,” Dunn said.

Bloomin’ Festival registration forms, maps and information are available online at www.bloomintemple.com or by calling (254) 773-2105.