Eagle Fest is back this weekend in Dover, with fun events for the whole family, from live music to a Hula Hoop contest to fireworks over the river.
The festival has been going on since 2006 in the town about 35 miles west of Clarksville on Highway 79. It’s a patriotic event intended to remember our past, honor our present and salute freedom, according to Dover Mayor Lesa Fitzhugh.
And it’s made an impact. Fitzhugh said she recently she ran into a dad with his small children at a grocery and invited them to Eagle Fest. He said he’d been to Eagle Fest 10 years earlier as part of the BOSS program at Fort Campbell, and it’s part of the reason he moved to Bumpus Mills to raise his family.
This year’s event will include a visit from the wildlife team at Paris Landing, bringing bald eagles, rattlesnakes and owls. The Civil War-era reenactment group Porter’s Battery will be firing a cannon over the river. There will also be free inflatables for the kids, games, facepainting, food, crafts and prize giveaways.
The opening ceremony will include a special guest speaker from the state of Tennessee, a flag folding ceremony, candle lighting, tolling of the bell, and recognition of the military and veterans.
Here’s this year’s schedule:
Friday, May 19
- 5-9 p.m., Rodney Watts performing live, plus Porter’s battery reenactments
Saturday, May 20, concerts
- 10-10:45 a.m., Opening Ceremony
- 11-11:45 a.m., SCMS Jazz Band, Mackenzie Kelly (band director)
- Noon-12:45 p.m., SCHS Jazz Band, Marion Blunk (band director)
- 1-1:45 p.m., Stringed Beats: Jan Clark, Karen Black and Inge McGrath
- 2-5 p.m., Saints and Sinners: Tim Filson, Mike Wolfe, Garren Robertson, Chad Lancaster and Josh Lancaster
- 3:15-3:45 p.m., Lil Feet: Liz Keel
- 4-4:45 p.m., Light House: Virgil & Ethel Wallace, Julia Biggs, Wayne & Beverly Hawkins, Jackie Myers and Marty Wallace
- 5-5:30 p.m., Southern Extreme Athletics All Star Cheerleaders, Alysa Rivera
- 5:45-6:45 p.m., Geezer (rock band)
- 7-7:30 p.m., Candlelight Vigil for our Troops, Brother Don Bailey
- 7:45-9 p.m., Marty Wallace Band, Misfits of Rock ‘n’ Roll
- 9 p.m., Fireworks with music
Emcees will be George Wallace, Brother Don Bailey and Bryan Saunders.
The event is brought to you by the Town of Dover and Platinum sponsors Congressman Mark Green, Dennis Concrete Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, Jeff Burkhart – Clean and Shine Car Wash, and Dover Dental Clinic; Gold sponsors CEMC, OB Garland RV’s, Rye Engineering, and Olivia Wann Attorney-at-Law; Silver sponsors The Emporium – Riverview Town Homes, F&M Bank, and Cumberland Connect; Bronze sponsors Dill’s Piggly Wiggly, Sills Insurance, and Tractor Supply Company; plus Smiths Logging and State Rep. Jay Reedy.
For more information, call 931-209-8990.