As the city makes way for the 26th annual Johnny Appleseed Arts & Cultural Festival, which will set up shop in the city’s downtown on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., longtime festival coordinator and Ward 5 City Councilor Richard Marchand says that the event is all about celebrating diversity.

“It’s a true celebration,” Marchand said on Monday, adding: “It’s a community reunion.”

Over 120 vendors are slated to participate in the fair, where it is free to both park and attend. And the types of vendors who get on board, represent not only the diversity of Leominster as a city but the good-willed nature of the event itself.

Some 85% of the event’s vendors are either nonprofits or charity-based organizations. And they often work together to prop each other up - many vendors will donate space, time or goods to bolster the various fundraising initiatives that work to raise money over the course of the day.