The fruit of multiple months worth of labor will take form this weekend across Elizabethton. And the area’s smallest — and furriest — residents will be able to reap the rewards.

With an all-day agenda on tap, Parrots & Tails IV gets underway on Saturday, Sept. 29, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Covered Bridge Park and will serve as a fundraiser to benefit the Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter. Tickets are a $15 donation with kids under 12 getting in for free.

John Bland, event organizer, said the road has been busy but with the finish line in sight, excitement is filling the area with a wide variety of activities on tap for attendees of all ages.

“We want to offer this event for everyone,” he said. “We have everything from cake walks, music, food, refreshments, beer, face-painting … we want this to be something for all ages. It’s a great way to enjoy a stress-free Saturday and support the animal shelter.”

Music at the park features a variety of performers, including Jim Miller, JB & The Heebinator, Mark White and Scotty Melton, H.B. Beverly, Under the Table, Half Moon Trench, Luke Broyles and the nightcap is headlined by Acoustifried.

Overall, the goal of the event is to help raise funds for projects going on at the facility. John Bland said the Friends of the Animal Shelter, the event spearheading the event, is hoping to raise $10,000, which will go toward replacing the HVAC system at the shelter and assisting the shelter with the feral cat issues going on locally.

“Our biggest concern is the HVAC to make sure the animals are comfortable at the shelter. Right now we’re racking up incredibly high heat bills and the pipes freeze. We want to use this event as a way to help replace the system. We already have monetary support from the county and city, and we appreciate it. Now our goal is to help cover the rest.”

Another aspect of the funding is to go toward spay and neuter initiatives across the region. The shelter is feeling the brunt of the problem by being over capacity with animals.

“We have people who are not being responsible and not taking advantage of the low-cost spay and neuter opportunities we can offer,” Bland said. “Then we end up having those litter of puppies or kittens coming by the shelter. We have 191 cats and 87 dogs and that’s over our capacity… this money is going to help this issue.”

Bland added $10,000 may seem aggressive, but support from local sponsors has helped chip away at the goal.

“We’re already halfway to our goal,” Bland said. “It is a very aggressive goal, but we’re already halfway there before we open the gates.”

A unique kickoff for the event awaits the public.

Tails on the Tweetsie registration gets underway at 8 a.m. with the event scheduled to take place an hour later. The event includes a 2K dog walk on the Tweetsie Trail, starting from the old Tweetsie Trail Depot on Elk Avenue before ending up at Covered Bridge Park. But Bland said there’s anticipation for the “Mutteritaville” dog contest. Interested participants will be able to sign up prior to the contest, which is pegged with an 11:05 a.m. start time.

Mutteritaville will include a dog parade and contest. First place trophies will be awarded to Best Dressed, Best Wiggle Butt, Best Dressed Owner and Dog Couple, and Most Unusual Talent.

Bland added the Tri-Cities Parrot-Head Club is sponsoring the event and provided the trophies for participants.