Things to Do & See

5K Run/Wallk

Start your festival experience off with our 5K Run/Walk or Bike Ride at 9 a.m. The 5K is sponsored by the Sharkey County Alumni Association and the Bear Affair. Entry fee is $10.00 with proceeds going to the Rucker Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

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Children's Games

There are fun activities to keep children busy. This year’s activities include an arts and crafts area for children, trackless train rides, a bounce house, and a presentation on Mississippi Snakes. Train rides will be $1.00 per person. the bounce house will have a fee also.

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Chainsaw Woodcarver

Each year the city of Rolling Fork is left with a different 12 foot wooden bear carved by a chainsaw artist during the Great Delta Bear Affair. It’s great fun to watch a bear being formed from a cypress tree stump by renowned Mississippi chainsaw woodcarver, Dayton Scoggins of Artistry in Wood.

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Archaeological Tours

A guided driving tour of nearby pre-historic Indian Mounds is offered by Mr. Sam Brookes, retired archaeologist. Mr. Brookes will lead you to area mounds where you may then get out of your vehicle to hear what is known of their pre-historic inhabitants. This fascinating tour is offered in the morning and again in the afternoon during the festival. Make sure your car has plenty of gas, as you will be driving your own vehicle and will be away from gas stations for a little while. Tours leave from the Rolling Fork Visitor’s Center and Museum, 380 Walnut Street, at 10 am. and 2 pm.

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Holt's Hound dog Hoopla

Enter your dog in this fun dog show, that will celebrate Holt Collier’s love for his hound dog hunters! Registration will be on site at the main stage, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The show will begin at 10:30. There will be celebrity judges and a talent contest (optional) for your dog, and of course we’ll want to hear that hound dog howl! All breeds welcome, dogs must be leashed and current with their shots. Open to all breeds of dogs.

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Seminars

The Great Delta Bear Affair offers free seminars for festival-goers. At 11:00, Black Bear project leader, Richard Rummel, will update us on black bears in Mississippi. This will be in the Fine Arts Room of the Sharkey Issaquena county Library. At 1:30, Terry Vandeventer, better known to many around Mississippi as the “Snake Man,” brings his Living Reptile Museum for a fun and educational presentation.. Bring the kids to the Sharkey-Issaquena County Library courtyard to learn about snakes in Mississippi!

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Chuckburger Eating Contest

Named for the local diary bar, where these chili and slaw burgers became famous, the Chuckburger Eating Contest will be held at noon. The contest is limited to no more than 8 participants, and sign-up will be based on a first come, first served basis.

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