9 AROUND TOWN
The 17th Big E Festival The 17th Big E Festival & Elvis Tribute Artists Competition will be held at the Rabun County Civic Center in Clayton on August 6 – 8. The festival starts on Friday with a Meet & Greet from 5pm to 6pm in the downstairs Rock N Roll Café at the Civic Center. Concert begins at 7pm with World Champion David Lee from Birmingham, Alabama, and 2019 Big E winner Jacob Eder from Abbeville, South Carolina. David Lee won the Big E in 2003, then took the 2004 World Champion International Images of the King title in Memphis, Tennessee. In 2015, he was crowned the Ultimate Elvis Contest winner. He holds many titles including Canadian Grand Champion. Saturday at 1pm the ETA Competition begins with Robby Dean, Spirit of the King, as Emcee. This former Hollywood stuntman promises to perform his infamous version of Polk Salad Annie and challenges anyone to out-do him. A Youth Division has been added this year for ETAs under age 16. Adult ETAs from as far away as Australia will be competing. Elvis’ favorite foods, provided by the Friends of the Rabun County Library, will be available for purchase. Door prizes will be given. A SockHop Dinner will take place Saturday night at 7pm at the Civic Center Rock n Roll Café. This catered event will feature David Lee as Conway Twitty, Sean Michael as Johnny Cash and Jessica Nash as Patsy Cline plus other stars. A special People’s Choice Award, with all proceeds benefiting Rabun County Public Library, will be awarded. David Lee’s Gospel Brunch will take place Sunday at 11am at the Award Winning Clayton Café’ on Main St. Limited seating. For tickets www.bigefest. com or call 706-540-3915.
42 www.gmlaurel.com - July 2021
