The Eagle Lake community will welcome visitors May 23 for its 3rd annual Lake Fest, a daylong festival designed to promote the lake and its community.

“It all began as something for the property owners and residents who live along the lake. We decided to open it up to have a good community event and let the people in the surrounding areas know about Eagle Lake,” said Bill Harris, a board member with Eagle Lake Matters, an organization formed by Eagle Lake’s residents and property owners to keep the community clean and promote the area as a place to visit. He said about 800 people attended the 2014 event.

Lake Fest, board member Linda Banchetti said, is the organization’s fundraiser to help it develop programs for Eagle Lake.

Kelly MacNeely, past president of Eagle Lake Matters and Lake Fest chairman, said the organization has adopted five miles of Mississippi 465 and employs young people in the community to collect the litter, installed and lit the “Welcome to Eagle Lake” sign at the community’s entrance, sponsors block parties for residents and the community’s Mardi Gras and July 4 boat parades and installed security cameras in public areas.

Lake Fest will be held on the Sanders House property on Eagle Lake Shore Road near its intersection with Mississippi 465. The home was the site of the Cotton Exchange Restaurant.

“There is a big yard, and it’s got a lot of concrete parking area,” Harris said.

The festival begins at 11 a.m. with live entertainment by Deanna, followed by a Memorial Day address by by Lt. Brian Olier of the Mississippi National Guard and an Iraq War veteran will be the featured speaker for a Memorial Day program at noon and a flyover by planes from the Southern Heritage Air Museum.

The Chill from Vicksburg will perform from 1 p.m. until Lake Fest ends at 5.

Other activities during the festival include a flea market, children’s activities and cooks preparing a variety of foods.

“I believe this is the best flea market we’ve had,” MacNeely said.

“We’re anticipating more than two dozen arts and crafts vendors,” Harris said. “We’ll have a children’s area with games, prizes, and a 22-Rockin’ Slide and a Bounce House.”

Food available during Lake Fest will include barbecue chicken plates, gumbo, hamburgers, hotdogs, snow cones and ice cream. Soft drinks and water will also be available. The food booths will start selling at 11 a.m.

“Our gumbo cook is from Houma, La.,” MacNeely said. “He prepares everything by hand and it is very good.”

Banchetti said flea market booth space is still available for Lake Fest for $25 for a 10-foot by 10-foot space. Vendors interested in reserving a space can call 601-279-7503 to sign up for a space or visit www.eaglelakematters.com.