The sound of Pontotoc will be celebrated at this year’s Bodock Festival.

The 17th Annual Bodock Festival will feature many of the events its known for – like the bodock post and ball throwing contest, the flag drop, an antique car show, a 5K run/walk and a motorcycle ride – but it’s music that’s making a difference this year at the festival.

“That’s one of the biggest things about this festival,” said Bodock Festival Chairman Mark Bourne. “We’re honoring one of our own.”

That would be Jim Weatherly.

Weatherly, a Pontotoc

native, penned hit songs like “Midnight Train to Georgia,” “The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me,” “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be The First To Say Goodbye),” and “Where Peaceful Waters Flow.”

Weatherly will be honored three times at the festival. At the Flag Drop on Friday, the marching bands of Pontotoc, North Pontotoc and South Pontotoc will play his hit songs. Gov. Haley Barbour will declare Saturday as “Jim Weatherly Day” at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Courthouse.

A dinner honoring Weatherly will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Guy Hovis will sing many of Weatherly’s hits.

History and music

The Pontotoc Town Square Post Office and Museum will feature a special exhibit on Weatherly, and will also highlight Delaney Bramlett, the late musician who also hailed from Pontotoc.

“We’ll be highlighting the 50s and 60s, as well as the Jim Weatherly era,” said Martha Jo Coleman, museum director. “We’re going to have some fun things – the pop culture, the music, the art, the fashion of the era.”

Entertainment on the Courthouse steps for the weekend include Jock Adams & Blues Child and Family, who will headline the street dance Friday night. Performers will be on stage all day Saturday, wrapping with Tom Foolery at 5:15 p.m. and then Legends of the Blues at 7 p.m.

“This is a good way to have some good, free entertainment,” Bourne said. “It’s good entertainment close to home, good crafts and food to eat.”



JIM WEATHERLY EVENTS

■ 6 p.m. Friday – Flag Drop. County-wide pep

rally featuring football teams, cheerleaders

and bands from North Pontotoc, South Ponto-

toc and Pontotoc High Schools playing Jim

Weatherly’s hits.

■ 4 p.m. Saturday – Official presentation of

Jim Weatherly Day, Courthouse

■ 6 p.m. Saturday – Dinner with perfor-

mance by Guy Hovis and Jim Weatherly. $30,

First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

Bodock Festival

■ What: Music, bodock fence post

and ball throwing, motorcycle ride,

5K run/walk, car show, pancake

breakfasts, arts and crafts, food

■ Where: Downtown Pontotoc

■ When: Aug. 6-7

■ Cost: Free

■ Info: (662) 489-5042