Reelfoot Pelican Festival ready to land this weekend

SPECIAL TO THE STATE GAZETTE

The Reelfoot Lake Tourism Council and Reelfoot State Park are hosting their annual Pelican Festival. The event will begin this Friday and conclude Sunday, October 18-20.

The festival boasts silent auctions, pontoon tours to view the pelicans, food tastings, art and photography contests, and live animal shows.

Additionally, there will be an event Saturday at which the Friends of Reelfoot will hope to attract new members. It takes place at 11:30 a.m., at the park’s Visitor Center, Ellington Hall.

The complete Pelican Festival schedule:

Friday, October 18

Vendors open 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

9:00 a.m. Pelican Pontoon Tour (each tour takes around two hours)

11:00 a.m. Silent Auction opens

1:00 p.m. Registration open for art and photography contest

4:00 p.m. Pelican Pontoon Tour

7:00 p.m. Campfire, Owls and Night Hike – North Campground Pavilion

Saturday, October 19

Vendors Open @ 9am-8 p.m.

6:30 a.m. Sunrise Photography Pontoon Tour

8:30 a.m. Registration open for art and photography contest

9:00 a.m. Pelican Pontoon Tour – 2hr.

10:00 a.m. Reelfoot restaurant tastings (samples are limited)

10:00 a.m. Canvas, watercolor paper painting (supplies limited)

1:00 p.m. Pelican Pontoon Tour – 2hr.

2:00 p.m. Live animals with Bob Tarter (sponsored by RLTC)

4:00 p.m. Pelican Sunset Pontoon Tour – 2hr.

4:30 p.m. Voting ends on art and photography Contest

7:00 p.m. Silent Auction bidding ends

7:00 p.m. Live animals with Bob Tarter (sponsored by TSP)

Sunday, October 20

Vendors open 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

9:00 a.m. Pelican Pontoon Tour

1:00 p.m. Pelican Pontoon Tour