Third Annual 'Dukesfest' Coming to Cooter's Place in Sperryville, Virginia

'Dukes of Hazzard' 25th Anniversary Celebration

Stars and Stuntmen to Headline Event

Dukes Stuntdrivers to Perform Car Stunts

SPERRYVILLE, Va., July 28 -- This year's Dukesfest, the annual gathering of "Dukes of Hazzard" fans in Sperryville, VA will celebrate the show's 25th Anniversary at "Cooter's Place" on Saturday, August 9th and Sunday, August 10th from 9am to 5pm. Among the cast members appearing will be James Best, who portrayed Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane, Sonny Shroyer, who played Deputy Enos Strate, and Rick Hurst, the comic actor who played Hazzard Deputy Cletus Hogg. Also appearing will be Don Pedro Colley, who was Sheriff "Big Ed" Little of neighboring Chickasaw County. "Cooter" himself, Ben Jones, the former Congressman who played the loyal sidekick mechanic for Bo and Luke Duke, will host the entire event.

Joining the festivities will be legendary stunt director Paul Baxley, who created all of the action sequences for seven seasons of Hazzard mayhem. His nephew, famed stuntman Gary Baxley, will also appear and the two will oversee a stunt driving demonstration on Saturday evening.

"There will be two days of great country and bluegrass music, a Mopar show, a classic car gathering, a Model Car show, and General Lees from all over America and Canada," says Jones, who along with his wife Alma have operated the "Dukes'" theme store for five years. "This year is very special to the cast and crew of the show because we started filming in 1978, so this event kicks off our 25th anniversary celebration. One critic said that our show wouldn't last past the first commercial break. Has anybody ever been more wrong?"

Jones explains that "Although Dukesfest is all free, The Hazzardous Stunt Show will be an additional event, beginning at six on Saturday evening only. There will be a $10 admission charged for that event. Seniors will pay only $5 and there will be no charge for children twelve and under."

Parking is free along designated areas off Highway 211. Free shuttle buses will deliver folks to Cooter's. "Y'all come," says Jones, "and hang out with the Hazzard County folks!"