Church Hill residents are hard at work in preparation for the third annual Church Hill Barn Dance and Country Dinner to be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday.

Last year’s highly successful barn dance attracted about 700 people to the rural plantation community northeast of Natchez.

The Barn Dance and Country Dinner will return, for the third year, to the Anna Seed Barn on the west side of Highway 553, between Wagner’s Store and the historic mansion, Springfield.

Highway 553 is entered from the Natchez Trace Parkway at both the Emerald Mound exit (coming from the south) and the Springfield exit (coming from the north).

The Sandbar Restaurant in Vidalia, Louisiana, will cater the country dinner.

Blues singer Kelly Stebbins and South by Southwest of Taos, New Mexico, will provide country and rock n’ roll music.

Admission is $25.00 per person for the dinner and dance, which will feature a cash bar.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance from the Historic Natchez Foundation at 108 South Commerce St. in Natchez.

All proceeds benefit the restoration of Wagner’s Store, a project of the Church Hill Preservation Trust of the Historic Natchez Foundation.

Church Hill supporters are already selling $2 raffle tickets for a brand new .300 Weatherby magnum rifle and will continue selling tickets at the dance before the drawing.

The winner, however, does not have to be present to win.

Chairman of the 2003 barn dance is Church Hill resident Michael Burke.

&uot;Although the success of the previous two years exceeded our expectations, we hope to make the 2003 event the most successful yet,&uot; Burke said. &uot;We are especially excited about this year’s improved sound stage and dance floor, which will be located outside the barn. This will improve the sound quality and free the barn itself to be used for eating and visiting.&uot;

Please call the Historic Natchez Foundation at 601-442-2500 for more information.