MOULTRIE — The weatherman says that warmer weather will appear just in time for this year’s Spring Fling and Backyard Barbecue Festival, which promoters promises to be one of the biggest in its five-year history.

Temperatures this week have been rather nippy but the forecast calls for 80 degrees by the end of the week. But, there is also a 30 percent chance of rain Saturday, weather reports Monday stated.

City of Moultrie Main Street Director Amy Johnson said this year’s festivities kick off Thursday night, April 17, at 7 p.m. at the Colquitt County Arts Center. The Ribbons and Strings performance will be “an evening of music, dance and art” featuring the Southwest Georgia Ballet and the Colquitt County Arts Center Honors Choir, directed by Beth Miller. The event will also feature local musicians pianist Ken Collier and guitarist Jimmy Moore.

There will be a $10 charge for adults and $5 for children and students to attend, and Johnson said all proceeds will go to the Arts Center. The event is being sponsored by CNS Cable.

The Spring Fling music festivities continue with a free concert on the courthouse square starting at 8 p.m. Friday, April 18. The concert will feature country artist and Georgia native T. Graham Brown. Brown was born in Arabi and currently resides in Athens.

Along with the concert, Johnson said the Blue Ridge Packard Club will bring its Spring Tour of Packards to Moultrie. The eight cars will be on display on the East Central Avenue side of the square during the concert.

Johnson said the fifth annual Spring Fling will get rolling at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 19, preceded by a Moultrie Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. The festival will feature over 40 arts and crafts vendors, food, entertainment on two stages and a live animal show. The smell of barbecue will emanate throughout the square as about 20 teams compete in the Backyard Barbecue Contest.

The day will conclude with the “Who’s Got Talent” competition starting at 4 p.m. on the main stage, Johnson said. The application deadline for the competition has been extended, but anyone interested will need to contact the Main Street office at 890-5455 as soon as possible.

This year’s festival features the annual Cute Critters Pet Parade sponsored by the Humane Society of Colquitt County, Johnson said. Everyone is encouraged to bring their pets to Spring Fling and show off their talents and/or costumes. Registration is $5 per pet, and anyone interested can register at the information tent the day of Spring Fling.

The Humane Society is also sponsoring a poker run that starts at 9 a.m. and ends about noon Saturday, Johnson said. There is a $10 registration fee, and prizes will be awarded for the best hand, second-best hand and worst hand.

Johnson a new addition to this year’s festival is the Poultry Palace, a surprise exhibit that will be available throughout the day. A train will go around the square for the children, and adults can register to win a custom golf cart valued at about $5,000.

This year’s Spring Fling is truly a team effort, Johnnson said, noting that it could not be done without the help of all of the city’s departments. It takes a lot of work from a lot of city work crews for the Spring Fling to be the success that it is each year.

“This is a task for the entire city,” Johnson said. “The more we bring in, the better it is.”

The festival is being sponsored by the City of Moultrie, CNS Cable Television, Southwest Georgia Bank, WSWG and WCTV, Market Barbecue, the Downtown Moultrie Association, Colquitt County, Larry Franklin Properties, Rocky’s Trophies, Ameris Bank, the law office of David Herndon, Hampton Inn and Alderman Classic Realty.