CUMMING — The Forsyth County Freedom Festival on Saturday will fill the Cumming Fairgrounds with passion, politics and prayer.

“We’ve been working on this for a year,” organizer David Crouch said. “We hope to be able to grow it and make it a yearly event.”

The crux of the event, Crouch said, is “let’s take back our government.”

Radio talk show host Herman Cain will emcee the event, which features local and state politicians.

Among them are Tom Graves and Lee Hawkins, who will face each other in a June 8 runoff election for the 9th District U.S. House seat.

The winner will fill the unexpired term of Nathan Deal, who resigned to run for governor.

Deal and fellow Republican gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel also will speak.

The event will feature musical performances and more than a dozen speakers. Guests are welcome as early as 11 a.m., but Cain’s radio show and the speakers begin at noon. The event ends at 2 p.m.

Crouch, a Forsyth County resident, said he expects at least 1,500 people at the festival.

The county is the second-most conservative in the nation, according to a recent news site study, which is why “we think the people will be very receptive here.”

About 85,000 e-mail invitations have been sent to various local tea party groups, Republican Party groups, Americans for Prosperity and 9.12 Project.

Crouch said his message is to “support your county, love your country, support the conservative agenda and let’s restore America to what it used to be.”