Those who are waiting for a special event in Driver — and don’t want to wait six months for Driver Days — have a reprieve coming up next weekend.

The Driver Retail Merchants’ Association, Driver Ruritan Club and Berea Christian Church will sponsor a chili cook-off, cornhole tournament and used recreational vehicle sale on April 30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The events will include craft sales, food vendors and entertainment and take place in the little village of Driver.

“It’s just to get people out in the community,” said Matt Prince, who is on the event committee. “Maybe they’ll walk in the stores.”

Planned to take place half a year before the annual Driver Days festival, the event also is a companion and springboard to the larger October shindig.

“With the economy like it is and the King’s Highway Bridge closing, it’s just to get people out there,” Prince said. “It’s going to be kind of like Driver Days, but about 10 percent as big as Driver Days.”

The event will include a Driver chili contest at the Harmony House. Entrants register for $15 to bring a pot of their favorite red or white chili to sell and to be judged. The first-place winner will receive a cash award. Second- and third-place winners will receive trophies. The chili cook-off will benefit the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts.

For the cornhole tournament, the registration fee is $20 per team. Competitors have the chance to win cash prizes. Open play is available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The used recreational vehicle sale will benefit the Driver Ruritan Club and Berea Christian Church. For a $10 fee, anyone can sell used watercrafts, campers, all-terrain vehicles, golf carts, dirt bikes and similar equipment.

In addition to the main events, there will be local artists providing live music, an antique car show, special sales in the stores, a plant sale and more.

“We’re just trying different baits and see what fish bites,” Prince said. “We’re just kind of winging it.”

The committee expects about 2,000 people for the event.

“That would be a success for us,” Prince said.

The group has advertised the party through Craigslist, fliers and word of mouth.

For more information, call 771-8595 or 538-2488.