THOMASVILLE — Hundreds of visitors are expected to flock to the regional airport this weekend for the 41st annual Thomas-ville Fly-In, organizers said.

Saturday is “the big day” of the event as aircraft arrive today and depart Sunday, organizers said.

“The Fly-In offers a chance to see old airplanes, new airplanes and the new category, light sport aircraft,” Irv NeSmith, president of Thomasville Aviation Club, which sponsors the event, said. “It is free admission and the general public is welcome so they can walk around and see the airplanes.”

The event began small but is now one of the most attended fly-ins in the southeast.

Most aircrafts at the event are based in the southeastern U.S. and generally range from antiques to modern.

Activities include a candy drop for kids, a spot landing contest, vendors and aircraft rides, and the Thomasville Aviation Museum: Power of the Past.

“We’ve gone back and bought more candy, due to the interest that has been shown for that event,” NeSmith said of the candy drop. “Hopefully this year we’ll have a helicopter, but most years I’ve had to do it with an airplane. We fly a safe distance away, secure the kids, take the airplane and fly low, pouring candy out of the doors as we go by. Then, we turn the kids loose. It’s great to watch them go.”

The aviation club cooperates with the City of Thomasville for the event.

The physical center of the fly-in will be toward The Plane Station hangar. A shuttle service will be provided to and from the airport for those who need it.

Organizers are hoping for good weather Saturday.

“The rain has been great but we hope we can get a break,” airport manager Mike Woodham said. “We’ve certainly had some nice rain, but if the weather is really bad the airplanes can’t get in. Events like this are always dependent on the weather — especially aviation — but we’re supposed to get a break and have a relatively nice weekend.”

NeSmith agreed.

“I hope the front goes through; we should have a good weekend,” he said. “In fact, I see a little sunshine peeping out right now.”