PITTSFIELD – Next summer, the largest superhero convention ever held in New England could end up right in Pittsfield. The Central Maine Egg Festival directors voted this week to select “superheroes” as the 2006 festival theme.

Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Hulk – all are likely to be seen walking the streets of Pittsfield when the annual weeklong festival is held next July.

The festival traditionally is held the fourth Saturday of July in Manson Park.

The announcement of the theme comes on the heels of one of the festival’s most successful seasons in recent years.

Sherri Davis, festival representative and former president, said Thursday that there is a balance of more than $3,500 after all bills have been paid and before all revenues are in.

“This is the first year in many that we can actually have a rainy day fund,” Davis said.

When Davis came on as president three years ago, the festival’s financial picture was so dire that she took out a personal loan of $5,000 to allow the event to proceed.

“We paid that back that first year, and we’ve never looked back,” she said.

Attendance at most events has soared in recent years, particularly since the weather seems to have been cooperating.

At their meeting this week, the directors ratified a new slate of officers, including voting in Davis’ husband, Kevin Davis, as the new president. Kevin Davis was out of town Thursday.

“He will do a great job, I think, because he has watched me do it for three years. He’s not coming in without some experience,” Sherri Davis said.

Davis said that getting the theme set in October allows artists, crafters and others to make their plans for next year.

“We are already getting calls from all over the country,” she said. Tourism and other officials are eager to get next year’s festivals listed in their 2006 event directories.

“The sooner we get this settled and on our Web site, the better,” Davis said.

As is their custom, the Egg Festival directors will not meet again until April.