VIDALIA &8212; There was something for almost everyone at Vidalia&8217;s Jim Bowie Festival at the Riverview RV Park Saturday.

Toys for Bands played, the sheriff&8217;s office held a fishing tournament, children played in jump toys and the best cooked off in a barbecue duel.

They were three people short for the re-enactment, so an actor dressed in period costume told the famous Jim Bowie sandbar knife fight.

This was J.R. Edmondson&8217;s sixth year to play Bowie. An author and historian from Fort Worth, Texas, she was a history teacher for years before he became a writer.

The re-enactment and period costume was another way to teach history, he said.

&8220;It&8217;s a fun way to get history across to people,&8221; Edmondson said. &8220;And I love the area. Any excuse to visit again is welcome.&8221;

Steve and Priscilla Hill came to the festival because their grandchildren participated in the fishing tournament.

&8220;We&8217;ve been to every festival since they first had them,&8221; Steve Hill said. &8220;We&8217;ve been doing it since our 13-year-old granddaughter could walk.&8221;

A group from Hope, Ark., caravanned to Vidalia in eight RVs. Most had been to Natchez, but this was their first Bowie Festival.

&8220;We camp out at a different place each month,&8221; Douglas Drake said.

&8220;This month, the person picked Vidalia. We decided to come see what the Jim Bowie Festival was all about.&8221;

Dale Dwylie said it was a chance for the group of retirees to kick back.

&8220;We do a lot of eating and sitting under shade trees,&8221; Dwylie said.

David Toney and his family came from Jackson to participate in a motor club car show also at the RV park.

&8220;This is our first Bowie Festival,&8221; Toney said.

&8220;The barbeque was wonderful, and I enjoyed watching the kids on the bungee jump swing.&8221;