The 14th Annual Bear on the Square Mountain Festival’s Live Country Auction, which will be held Friday, April 16, will have an earlier starting time this year. Festival officials also announced that the highly-popular opening night event has obtained a sponsor. The event will take place in the MainStage Tent in Dahlonega’s Hancock Park adjacent to the Historic Public Square.

A preview of auction items will begin at 5 p.m. with BlueBilly Grit, a premier bluegrass band from North Georgia, providing music. There will also be food available for preview attendees with catering by Shenanigan’s Irish Pub and Bourbon Street Grille of Dahlonega. Then, starting at 6 p.m.,the spirited bidding will get underway with professional auctioneer Sam Williamson running the show.

Auction Sponsor is North Georgia Wealth Management Group (www.ngwmg.com) of Dahlonega. Founded by Laura J. LaTourette, CFP, the independent financial planning practice specializes in serving pre-retirees and retirees with fee-based and hourly financial planning and fee-based wealth management services, including wealth transfer and preservation through wealth structuring, estate planning, investment management and trust services.

The Live Country Auction is one of the most eagerly-awaited events of Bear on the Square weekend each year. It takes place in the large MainStage Tent in Hancock Park on the opening night of the festival.

Each year, the auction features the work of area folk artist Billy Roper, along with the work of other talented local artists and juried artists taking part in Bear on the Square’s Mountain Marketplace, including artists from the John C. Campbell Folk School, the marketplace sponsor. Among the items will be a painting by artist/musician Patsy Kline of the Appalachian Jam which takes place on the lawn of the Gold Museum in Dahlonega. There will also be bidding on gift baskets, services and other products from the local business community.

Melanie Pruitt, who is auction chair once again this year, said, “As in the past, we need the support of our local merchants, businesses, and community to make this auction a success. We will begin accepting donations and contributions any time between now and the [preferred] deadline date of Thursday, April 15. Pruitt urged those planning to provide items for the auction to contact her prior to the deadline so she can get them on the auction log sheet. “If donations are brought in late, it’s unlikely we’ll be able to get your name and donation on the log sheet for auction attendees and we don’t want to leave anyone out, if possible.”

Pruitt, who noted that contributors will receive a receipt for tax purposes, said she can be reached at 706-864-0374 or by email at melanie.pruitt@windstream.net. “We can pick up your donation or you can drop it off at Cranberry Corners, our donation headquarters, and we ask that you include a brief description of the item and its approximate retail value. She also expressed appreciation to the community for its continued support of the event. ?This is what keeps this festival going year after year, and we want to thank you in advance.”

Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, Inc., which stages the festival each year, is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit cultural arts organization whose mission is to preserve and celebrate the culture of the Southern Appalachians through the presentation of music, traditional craft, and folkways. Tax deductible donations are welcome and can be sent to P.O. Box 338, Dahlonega, GA 30533. More details about the 2010 Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, including information about music performances, the juried artists marketplace, workshops, and other activities can be found at www.bearonthesquare.org.