VIDALIA, La.— Beginning this Thursday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 19, the Vidalia Riverfront Amphitheater will host a free-family festival filled with live music, activities for children, dog performances, skydiving demonstrations with flag formations and more.
Activities are free to spectators, but there will also be food and craft vendors and opportunities to take paid helicopter rides and tandem skydiving for the adventurous, organizers said.
Activities are planned around the weekend of the Natchez Balloon Festival, but organizer and flight coordinator Paul Ferrell said not to worry.
“We’re not going to be flying into any hot air balloons,” he said. “All of our paperwork has been filed through the FAA and we’re all experienced pilots. We’re controlling our airspace and balloons have the first right of way. We know how to steer clear of them.”
Organizers have teamed up with Jump Florida Skydiving from Lake Wales, Florida, to bring their highly experienced tandem jumpmasters, equipment and Caravan airplane for demonstrations above the amphitheater and tandem skydives to the public from the Concordia Parish Airport.
Tandem Skydive is $300 per person and registration is required by calling 888-313-5867.
Each jump includes an edited video of your free-fall skydiving experience from 14,000 feet; then opening at 5000 feet for a scenic canopy ride overlooking the Mississippi River and landing back at the Concordia Parish Airport.
With around 40 people already signed up, Saturday jumps are full but there may still be slots available the remainder of the festival with a reservation, Ferrell said.
Visit the website https://www.jumpfloridaskydiving.com for more information and to view videos of what to expect during a tandem jump.
Skydiving jump demonstrations, which are free to spectators, are scheduled for 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. with flags, smoke and pyrotechnics at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Between the demonstrations and live music, dogs steal the show with Jason Reynolds’ “Fish N’ Fetch Bass Tub” and the “High Flying Retrievers.”
Below is a full schedule of activities this weekend in Vidalia.
Thursday – VIP night
5 p.m. Lloyd “Hurricane” Munn and the Forecasters. VIP event sponsors receive a turf and surf appreciation dinner sponsored by Honey Brake Lodge and C&M Crawfish
6 p.m. Skydive demonstration with flags, smoke and pyrotechnics and a welcome address by Vidalia Mayor Buz Craft
6:30 p.m. Reynolds Fish N’ Fetch Bass Tub – High Flying Retrievers Show
7 p.m. Music by Thomas Cain
Friday
10 a.m. Big River Festival activities begin with a skydiving demonstration; arts and crafts vendors; kid’s corner games and hoppers; petting zoo and other activities
11 a.m. Reynolds Fish N’ Fetch Bass Tub – High Flying Retrievers Show
12 p.m. Skydive Demonstration Jump and the Dogs of Honey Brake professional retriever demonstration
1 p.m. Reynolds Fish N’ Fetch Bass Tub – High Flying Retrievers Show
2 p.m. Brandon and Johns Muddy Mojo Band followed by Thomas Sanders – Jerry Lee Lewis Tribute
4 p.m. Skydive Demonstration Jump
5 p.m. Reynolds Fish N’ Fetch Bass Tub – High Flying Retrievers Show
6 p.m. Skydive Demonstration with flags, smoke and pyrotechnics and welcome words from Mayor Craft and other city officials
7 p.m. NOLA Groove Band - New Orleans No. 1 Dance Band
Saturday
10 a.m. Festival opens; Skydive Demonstration Jump
11 a.m. Reynolds Fish N’ Fetch Bass Tub – High Flying Retrievers Show
12 p.m. Skydive Demonstration Jump and the Ransakk Band
1:30 p.m. The I-10 Bound Band
2 p.m. Skydive Demonstration Jump and Reynolds Fish N’ Fetch Bass Tub – High Flying Retrievers Show
3 p.m. Wreckless Malfunction Band; Sweet Tooth Jones Band
4 p.m. Skydive Demonstration Jump
5:30 p.m. Music by Hanna Belle
6 p.m. Skydive demonstration with flags, smoke and pyrotechnics
6:30 p.m. Reynolds Fish N’ Fetch Bass Tub – High Flying Retrievers Show
7 p.m. Petty Betty Band
9 p.m. Vince Vance and The Valiants and other special guest performances including “Lil Elvis 5,” Al “Lil Fats” Jackson, and Tomatto “TTT” Tina Turner.
Sunday
7 a.m. Sunrise Worship Service – All Churches Invited