It was a sun-splashed autumn Sunday last year filled with country music and a record crowd at the event's new home — Manheim Township's Overlook Park.

After such a boffo first year at the park between Lititz and Fruitville pikes, Fallfest will return to Overlook on Sunday, Oct. 11, township officials announced.

The festival was moved to the park last year after 16 years at Long's Park on Harrisburg Pike.

The roomier Overlook campus drew 40,000-plus fans to the daylong event.

The 2008 fest featured established star Jo Dee Messina, up-and-coming performers and one-time "American Idol" contestant Bucky Covington.

Performers for the 2009 Fallfest will be announced by sponsoring radio station I-105 (also known to country fans as WIOV) on its morning show at 7:20 a.m. Thursday.

The exact time of the festival will be announced in coming weeks, Manheim Township public relations and community events manager Kelly Wells said Wednesday.

The event, named the Big I-105 Turkey Hill Fallfest, is known for offering well-known country acts and up-and-coming performers who would later become stars, including Toby Keith and Martina McBride.

Fan reaction to the new location was mostly positive, with comments about how it offered more room and better parking.

E-mail: doconnor@lnpnews.com