With the annual Covered Bridge Celebration less than a week away, officials with the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce are still seeking some volunteers to help out with the festival.

“We are still accepting volunteers,” said Chamber Director Tonya Stevens. “We can sign people up through early next week.”

Anyone wanting to volunteer for the festival is asked to contact Stevens by Tuesday afternoon so she and the other event coordinators can schedule the volunteers for the times and areas they will be needed.

“We do encourage those students who need community service hours to come out, particularly those needing Tennessee Promise hours,” Stevens said, adding that students must be at least 16 years of age to volunteer and must have a consent form signed by their parent or legal guardian.

“We also have opportunities for adults or anyone who wants to be a part of the festival,” she added. Stevens said they have volunteer opportunities for older adults and senior citizens as well.

All volunteers must sign a liability release waiver to be eligible to help out with the festival. Each volunteer will also receive a free event t-shirt commemorating this year’s Covered Bridge Celebration, which marks the 52nd year for the festival.

Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks, according to Stevens, everything from manning the information booth and hospitality area to helping vendors set up, and even some help with traffic control as the entertainers drive into and out of the festival area. Volunteers can sign up for as much or as little time as they are available to help out.

Some of the volunteer duties are easy going, but Stevens said others will require some lifting and moving items.

“They just need to know their own physical limitations,” Stevens said of people wishing to volunteer. “They do have to be able to withstand the heat because it does get hot out there.”

The festival will kick off on Thursday evening with vendors and festival areas being set up Thursday morning. The Covered Bridge Celebration will run through Saturday night and conclude with a fireworks show following the performance by headlining artist Billy Dean.

Those interested in volunteering are asked to send an e-mail to Tonya Stevens at director@elizabethtonchamber.com. She said she prefers e-mail because she will be in and out of the office frequently as the Chamber works to finalize details for the festival. For those without e-mail access, Stevens said they can contact the Chamber at 423-547-3850.