NATCHEZ — Tourists and locals will be looking out for flying dogs when the Iron Men Outdoor Games and Expo hits the Mississippi River bluff later this month.

The DockDogs international canine aquatics competition will stop in town on April 30 to show how high and how far dogs can soar through the air.

A 20-foot wide, 40-foot long pool, 5-foot deep pool will be built on the north end of the bluff near Madison Street for the event. Dogs will compete in several categories by jumping off a dock into the water in pursuit of a thrown toy.

“It is pretty exciting to watch,” spokesman Leo Joseph said. Joseph is a member of Natchez First Baptist Church, one of the groups organizing the event.

Dogs participating in the event travel across the world on the DockDogs Tour circuit. Professional diving dogs jump 15, 20 and even 25 feet during the event.The canine competition is just one of the many events that will be part of the Outdoor Games and Expo, Joseph said. Other events include children’s games, live music, exhibits and a 3-D archery competition at the bottom of Learned’s Mill Road at the end of Madison Street.

PSE Archery and Beretta will be among the exhibitors.

“We want it to be a great family day for the whole community,” Joseph said. “We wanted something the whole community could take part in.”

Local bow hunters will compete for bragging rights during the archery contests. A recent trend in the sport 3-D archery focuses on shooting at life-size models of deer, turkey and other game animals.

Events will be from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Tickets are $5 for those 16 and older. Children younger than 16 will be admitted free.

A banquet is also planned for that night at the community center. Tickets for the banquet are $25 each. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

A playhouse built by Waterfront Construction is being raffled off at the banquet. Money raised from the raffle will go to the family of Aiden Taunton, a Monterey girl who is battling a brain tumor. Raffle tickets cost $20 and can be purchased at Concordia Bank.

Bowie Outfitters, Sports Center, Honey Brake Lodge and Giles Island are partnering with the City of Natchez and the Iron Men of Natchez First Baptist Church to help make the event possible.