FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Heritage Hawk Festival Sat. at Mendota

["Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>]

HERITAGE HAWK FESTIVAL

flies into action Sept. 22 in Mendota

BY JOE TENNIS
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
----------------------------------------------------------

The Bristol Bird Club will condut trips
to the Mendota Fire Tower, as part of the 
Heritage Hawk Festival on Sept. 22.
----------------------------------------------------------

MENDOTA - It's a celebration that's part history and part nature-oriented.

The annual Heritage Hawk Festival in Mendota flies into action on Sept. 22, 
starting at 10 a.m. 

Mendota - said to be named for a Native American word 
meaning "a bend in the river" - was once an important railroad stop between 
Benhams and Maces Spring.

Today, Mendota is a picturesque farming community located close to where 
Washington County joins both Russell and Scott counties. 

Here, above Clinch Mountain, people peer into the sky to watch hawks at 
this community, which claimed to be "The Hawk Capital of the World."

The Heritage Hawk Festival is a project of the Bristol Bird Club.

During the festival, the club is conducting short trips to the Mendota 
Fire Tower on Clinch Mountain. There, the public can watch several, 
kinds of hawks as they migrate south for the winter.

Other events include a 3-D archery tournament with prizes.

There's also a "Pretty Girl" contest, in which people at the festival 
vote with money on who is the prettiest lady or girl. Whoever gets 
the most votes wins a "Pretty Girl Cake."

Food vendors are selling beans, cornbread, Philly steak sandwiches, 
funnel cakes, kettle corn, cotton candy and more.

And there's music.

~ Rambling Rose kicks off the stage events at 11 a.m. with a mixture
of gospel and country. At 11:50 a.m., Southern Flavor plays bluegrass.

~ Heaven Sent sings gospel at 12:40p.m., followed by a salute to the 
women of country music by Girls Gone Country at 1:30 p.m.

~ Ronnie Blake delivers a tribute to Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley at 
2:20 p.m.

~ Blood Bought wraps up the musical entertainment with more gospel 
at 3 p.m. 

Also look for vendors selling flea market items and traditional crafts, 
plus face-painting, a dunk tank, hair beading, bingo and cake walks.
Classic cars are going to be on display, too.

All events are free, but any money raised at the event through 
donations or other activities will directly benefit the Mendota 
Community Center and help buy extra supplies for the community's 
rural clinic.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What: Heritage Hawk Festival
Where: Mendota, along State Route 614, between
Holston (U.S. 1 9/58A) and Maces Spring/Hiltons
(near the Carter Fold). Festival grounds
are at the Mendota Commufity Center (former 
elementary school).
When: Sept. 22, starts at 10a.m.

Info: (276) 466-9533 or (276) 669-8386

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

jtennis@bristolnewscom (276) 791-0704