Grab your cowboy boots and hats and buy your tickets early for next week’s Southern Night’s Dinner and Dance at the Dawsonville Municipal Complex.

“I encourage everyone to come out and participate in the celebration of the City of Dawsonville’s 150th anniversary,” said Mayor Joe Lane Cox.

Proceeds from the Aug. 14 event will benefit the Dawson County Senior Center’s elevator fund.

Doors open at 5 p.m. with Athens-based Country River Band hitting the stage around 5:30 p.m. to entertain and keep the crowd dancing to the sounds of popular country and southern rock favorites.

Between sets, there will be a live auction featuring prizes such as a $300 gas grill, event tickets and a kayaking trip for four on the Amicalola or Etowah rivers, among others.

There will also be a silent auction made up of items donated by area businesses.

“We really got some great prizes donated,” said Kay Molder, an event organizer.

“I’m real proud of how the businesses have stepped up to help such a worthy cause — this elevator fund.”

The senior center is a two floor facility located at Veterans Memorial Park geared toward providing a social outlet for area seniors.

Center coordinator Rachelle Thurmond said an elevator is one of the center’s greatest needs.

“We have so many activities that we offer or could offer if we had an elevator. It’s really difficult for our seniors to walk up and down the stairs to our basement,” she said.

The center currently offers exercise and painting classes on the lower level.

“We’re also wanting to make some renovations to add a game room with a pool table and some gaming systems downstairs,” Thurmond said. “Every week we have seniors ask when we’ll have the elevator.”

Molden said the group has collected about $14,500 for the elevator, which is expected to cost between $40,000 and $50,000.

“We are dedicated to raising as much money as we can to get that elevator installed for the seniors as soon as possible,” she said.

Admission to the dance, which also includes dinner provided by several local eateries, is $15 for one ticket or $25 per couple and are available at city hall, Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, Dawson County Senior Center and at the Dawson County Government Office finance department.

Raffle tickets for a Dell laptop computer, GPS unit and handmade quilt donated by the senior center are also available at each location.

For more information, call (706) 344-3700 or (706) 265-3256.