DECATUR — Decatur Celebration officials announced Tuesday there will definitely be a 27th annual street festival next summer.

“Preliminary numbers are encouraging,” board president Kevin Chapman said. “Band Together wristband sales remained strong this year and they are truly the turning point for the festival.”

The event’s finances have been at issue in recent years. Celebration has fallen short of its budget goals. Eight of the last 10 Celebrations ended in the red. Chapman and producer Lori Sturgill made no promises that this year’s event turned a profit, but early numbers are encouraging.

Sturgill said the organization is not yet prepared to release numbers because The Scream haunted house, which opens Oct. 1, is part of the 2011 budget, and the Celebration fiscal year runs Nov. 1-Oct. 31.

Sturgill acknowledged happiness with the numbers even though the weather wasn’t as favorable this year as it was last year.

“It was so hot leading up to it this year that I think mentally people just thought it was better weather,” she said. “But Sunday was pretty hot.”

Sturgill said the board is looking at making improvements with some of the changes implemented this year, specifically recycling, the wine garden and the craft beer area.

Next year’s show is set for Aug. 3-5.