The 42nd annual Lumbee Homecoming kicks off its weeklong celebration beginning today, and organizers promise the celebration of the Lumbee tribe to be bigger and better than ever.

The annual event is put on by the Lumbee Regional Development Association Inc. and attracts thousands of Lumbees, many of whom live in Scotland County.

New this year, vendors will be allowed to set up starting Monday at an additional cost, and an air show will be part of the fun. Mt. Elim R/C Club from Lumberton will be performing an air show on July 3 from noon to 1:30 p.m. It will include radio controlled airplanes, helicopters and all aspects of aviation.

Another special event at this year’s homecoming is a roundtable discussion, “Lumbee History in the Jim Crow Era,” to be held from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Baptist Student Union House, Prospect Road, Pembroke.

Author and historian Malinda Maynor Lowery will join a panel of community members who will talk about Lumbee history. The event will encourage discussion of Lowery’s book “Lumbee Indians in the Jim Crow South” as a roundtable conversation for the community.

Lunch will be served and everyone is invited. For information, contact Alesia Cummings at (910) 521-6266.

The grand parade, a key feature of homecoming, takes place along Prospect Road beginning at 10 a.m. July 3. The grand marshals this year are John “Ned” Sampson and Florence Ransom.

This year’s homecoming brings five young ladies to vie for the honor of being crowd Miss Lumbee. The contestants are Markisha Lee Chavis, Elizabeth Ashton Hunt, Chasity Nicole Lowery, Kendra Danielle Chavis, and Brandi Taneal Scott.

Five contestants are trying for the title of Teen Miss Lumbee. Eight girls are vying for Junior Miss Lumbee. And four girls are competing for the title of Little Miss Lumbee.

The Miss Lumbee and Teen Miss Lumbee pageants will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Givens Performing Arts Center on the campus of The University o North Carolina at Pembroke.

The Little Miss Lumbee and Junior Miss Lumbee pageants will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Givens.

The 2009-10 ambassadors will be saying their farewells, including Little Miss Lumbee Mahlea Hunt, Junior Miss Lumbee Madison Davenport, Teen Miss Lumbee Alexis Locklear and Miss Lumbee Allison Mitchell.

During this year’s homecoming, two longtime members of the Lumbee Regional Development Association Inc. will be recognized for their years of service — William Locklear, who served 36 years, and Patricia Lowery, who devoted 39 years to the organization.

Homecoming will also include the traditional Lumbee games, a car show, golf tournament, gospel sing, 5K Run/Fun Walk and more.