Carter County native John Bland has been involved with the Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter for years, and over that time he has seen a lot of things change at the shelter.
And to help ensure the shelter continues to have the money needed for things that had not been budgeted, Bland is helping organize the Parrots & Tails IV Concert at the Bridge, which is a benefit for the shelter that will take place at the Covered Bridge Park and Tweetsie Trail.
“I started this about 12 years ago with a fundraiser to get a trunk load of food to the animal shelter,” said Bland to the Carter Commission Monday. We have come along way since then. We built a beautiful shelter, and we are now budgeted for all of our needs. But we still need things that come up from time to time.”
The benefit is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 29 and is slated to run from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets cost a $15 donation while kids twelve and under are free.
The first event of the day is the Tails on the Tweetsie. The 2k dog walk starts at 9 a.m. at the Old Tweetsie Depot on Elk Avenue across from Taco Bell. Registration for the 2k will start at 8 a.m.
Gates for the Concert by the Bridge will open at 10 a.m. The Mutteritaville Dog Parade and Contest, sponsored by the Tri-Cities Parrot-Head Club, will kick off the action at 11:05. The contest will include the categories: best dressed, best wiggle butt, best-dressed owner, dog couple, and most unusual talent.
Following the Dog Parade and Contests, music will kick off at 11:30 a.m. and run through 5 p.m., and will include musical acts and musicians Jim Miller, JB & the Heebinator, Mark White and Scotty Melton, H.B. Beverly, Under the Table, Half Moon Trench, Luke Broyles, and Acoustifried.
There will also be an all-day cake walk, face painting, and games for kids, and entertainment from Rosebud the Clown.
Sponsors for the event include Elizabethton Federal Savings Bank, Jeff’s Morrell Music, Carter County Bank, Northeast Community Credit Union, Climate Controllers, Jiggy Ray’s Downtown Pizzeria, Eastman Credit Union, Hillbilly Parrot Head Club, Big John’s Closeouts, Security Federal Bank, Doe Valley Printing, Citizens Bank, Mountain Homes Realty, Appalachian Printing, Food City, Walmart, and Ingles.
For more information, Bland can be contacted at parrotsandtails4@gmail.com.