Selma native and NFL star Michael Johnson is throwing his fourth annual Fun Fest on Saturday, July 18, and this one might be the biggest one yet.

The festival will be held July 18 at Wallace Community College Selma’s student center from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The only admission charge is a non-perishable food item, which will be donated to the Selma Area Food Bank.

“We have a big, fun day planned for the kids,” said Michael’s mother, Thomasene Johnson. “We will have food. We have music and we will have a train. We will have bouncy houses, face painting and lots of games — even for the adults.”

Johnson said she’s hoping at least 300 children take part in this year’s Fun Fest. She said because they’ve done a better job of getting the word out, there’s been a buzz about it around town.

“This one is bigger,” Johnson said. “I think we’ve done a better job. We’ve put flyers all over town, everywhere we could think of.”

Sarrell Dental Center is helping sponsor the event and is setting up a photo booth where free pictures will be taken with the NFL star.

“That’ll be a little keepsake for them,” Thomasene said.

Thomasene said Michael likes to give back whenever he can and that he’s always enjoyed being around children.

“He loves playing with the kids. He likes hanging out with them, talking to them, playing with them — especially the small kids,” Thomasene said.

“He enjoys spending time with children. That’s kind of his passion.”

It’s been a busy offseason for Michael. He’s changed NFL uniforms, going back to Cincinnati after spending a year in Tampa Bay. Johnson spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Bengals.

He left Georgia Tech after three years for the NFL Draft, but had promised his mom he’d go back to school and get his degree. Earlier this summer he kept that promise.

In June, he donated the needed funds to revamp a Martin Middle School computer lab with brand new equipment, which included computers, desks and chairs. The lab was named in his honor when it opened.

The Fun Fest will likely be one of Johnson’s last free weekends before the NFL season starts.

The Bengals open up training camp July 30 and play their first preseason game Aug. 14 against the New York Giants.