Preparations are under way for the eighth annual Lunch at an Artful Table fundraiser for the Dawson County Arts Council.

The luncheon, set to begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Bowen Center for the Arts, will feature 12 elegantly dressed place settings decorated by groups within the community.

With this year's theme: "Holidays and Celebrations," organizers expect the competition for best table to be fierce.

"It involves so many volunteers and so many other people that normally wouldn't have a vested interest in the arts center. It just brings out the talents and the excitement of the people that decorate the tables," said Director Ginny Greenwood.

A fundraiser for the arts council, proceeds from Lunch at an Artful Table benefit the group's many community projects, including art scholarships and support of art department's at area schools, among others.

Tickets for the event are sold out.

"We have more seating this year than we've ever had in the past, and we've sold all our tickets, so that's great," Greenwood said.