There’s more to the Thanksgiving holiday than turkey. There’s also Hunter Appreciation Day.

Hunter Appreciation Day begins Saturday at 9 a.m. in Pine Apple, a Wilcox County community of about 200 people. According to Virginia Grimes, one of the event’s organizers, the annual festivities draw anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 people.

Events at this year’s Hunter Appreciation Day include arts and crafts vendors, a big buck contest and an antique car parade. A barbecue dinner will be held Friday night from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Moore Academy Gymnasium. Live entertainment will be provided.

Visitors can purchase arts and crafts including furniture, children’s items, Christmas presents and food. The antique car parade begins at noon at the Moore Academy School. Grimes estimated that about 40 cars would take part in this year’s parade. Cars should line up at 11 a.m. There is no fee for this event. The day’s crowning event, though, is the big buck contest.

There are three divisions for the contest &045; big buck winner, ladies and juveniles. The entry fee is $20.

The top prize is $500. The winner of the ladies division will receive $250. The juvenile division winner will take home $150.

Deer must be killed on Saturday, and hopefuls should sign up before 9 p.m. Friday. According to Grimes, all money received from the event goes toward the beautification of Pine Apple. Pine Apple is off Alabama Highway 10. It’s 45 miles south of Selma and 20 miles east of Camden.