After conditioning all winter, the Dawson County Tigers football team is ready to show the community what they are made of.

Advance tickets are now available for the Tigers’ Football Spring Fest 2009 to be held Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

The Dawson County Tigers invite the entire community to spend the afternoon watching the team’s Maroon and Gold spring scrimmage. Kickoff is at 1 p.m., but gates open early at 11 a.m.

The $5 early admission fee includes live entertainment, barbecue lunch, concessions, fun and games and the football game.

Admission the day of the event is $5 for adults, $3 for children. Barbecue plates the day of the event will cost an additional $5.

All proceeds benefit the Tiger football program. “The money raised benefits every boy on the team with new up-to-date safety equipment, special padded helmets and new padding to keep the boys safer during a game,” said Lori Lewis, vice president of fundraising for the Tigers’ Touchdown Club.  

Funding also goes toward three football camps scheduled this summer before the team’s season opener against rival Lumpkin County Aug. 28.

The Tigers condition all winter, leading up to an intense two week Spring Training of running drills, playing in helmets and pads and working as a team.  

“In the past, the last day of Spring Training has been the annual maroon and gold scrimmage game, a way to show the accomplishments of what the boys have learned, and watch them work together as a team,” Lewis said. “This year we decided to kick it up a notch and make it an event for the whole community to come out and enjoy.”

Slides, carnival games, fair hair and micro racers, among others, will be available for the kids, while adults can enjoy foot massages by Relax Dawson.

Live entertainment performances include The Well Reads, 3rd Crush, The Desarios, Star Ford and Tyler Wheeler.

The Chick-fil-A cow is also scheduled to make an appearance. A silent auction and raffles are also planned.

“We look forward to the whole county coming out and enjoying a day full of fun, football, special events, entertainment, vendors, children’s activities, barbecue and more,” Lewis said.

Vendor tables are also available for $25.

For more information, call Lewis at (561) 254-4494 or (706) 216-7148, or e-mail dawsonvilletigers@yahoo.com.

E-mail Michele Hester at michele@dawsonnews.com.