By Jason C. Mattox and Billy Davis

Batesville SpringFest always brings a mingling of sights, sounds, and smells.

Like the shrieking crowd on the whirling Moby Dick ride.

Or those hot funnel cakes, now a staple of Batesville’s biggest yearly event.   

If the weather cooperates – it has rained every SpringFest weekend in recent memory – a couple thousand people will descend on the Square by late evening to hear the headliner.

Oklahoma native Keith Anderson headlines 2010 SpringFest, continuing the unofficial tradition of country acts topping the lineup.

Anderson left behind an engineering job in Dallas to pursue music. It has been and up and down ride ever since, peaking with hit single “I Still Miss You” in 2008.

His 2005 album Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll, released by Arista, was certified Gold.

Other radio hits include “Pickin’ Wildflowers,” which peaked at No. 8 on the country charts, and “Every Time I Hear Your Name,” which peaked at No. 7.

Featured entertainment Friday night will be Souled Out at 6 p.m. with Curb Service and the Curvettes taking the stage at 8 p.m.

Day two of SpringFest will open Saturday morning at 8 with the annual 5K Run/Walk Racing for Paws, a fund-raiser for the Panola County Humane Society.

The PB and J Fun Times Carnival will reopen at 10 a.m. with live music starting just before noon.

Aaron Hall Band will open the day’s music at 11:30 a.m. Barry Male and Will Smith will follow at 1:30 p.m.

Mark “The Muleman” Massey will perform from 2:45 p.m. to 4:30 when Busted Screen Door will take the stage.

SpringFest veterans Tate Moore and the Cosmic Door will play from 5:45 to 7 p.m.

Creole String Beans will play from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. when Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-chas will open for headliner Keith Anderson, who will take the stage at 9 p.m.

SpringFest veterans Ricky Swindle and Johnny Pace will emcee the event.

Call 563-3126 for information.