The Mississippi Bluegrass Jamboree begins today, but campers were already rolling into the Columbia Expo Center Monday.
The three-day festival has people traveling from across the region.
“We used to come to Columbia every year,” Randy Lay, of Foley, Ala., who traveled to Columbia with his wife, Linda, said. “We helped Johnnie (Stringer) for about 11 years. We’re hoping it takes off again.”
The festival is in memory of the late Johnnie and Peggie Stringer, who hosted the Legends of Bluegrass and Country in Columbia. That event was last held in 2011.
Lay said it was great to see some old familiar faces as he pulled into Columbia over the weekend.
“We call them family reunions,” he said. “I don’t see some of these folks unless it’s here.”
Louie and Gwen Cotton were sitting outside their camper with the Lays and talking about bluegrass music Monday afternoon.
“This is our first time here (in Columbia),” Louie Cotton said. “I love it. We’re having a good time, and the music hasn’t even started yet. We help park the campers for the Magnolia State Bluegrass Association. We’ve traveled all over Arkansas and Missouri. We’re headed to Oak Grove, La., for a week after this. We follow the music. There are a lot of stars coming here, all of the big name bands.”
Mayor Justin McKenzie said he is excited about the festival.
“The city agreed to help along the way to make it a reality,” the mayor said. “So is Main Street Columbia. The goal is to bring some good talent so that we can bring a large crowd into our community. Ultimately, they’ll be here for three or more days, visiting, shopping, eating … all in our community.”
Bertie Sullivan of Sumrall is helping recruit the talent as she’s done for many bluegrass events. She recently returned from a festival at the Bill Monroe Music Park in Indiana where she coordinated workshops.
“Mayor Justin McKenzie called me and said the city wanted to have a bluegrass festival,” she said. “We’ve got a great lineup starting with Doyle Lawson and the Farm Hands, both award-winning bands on Thursday. We’ve also got Polkville City Limits on Thursday. We’ve got kind of a ‘who’s who’ in bluegrass coming here to Columbia.”
One artist the festival had hoped to have, Jesse McReynolds, will not be able to attend due to health reasons.
“He was supposed to play on Saturday night,” Sullivan, who serves on the board of the Magnolia State Bluegrass Association, said. “The Moron Brothers out of Kentucky will be her instead. They are a great act and very funny.”
Sullivan said many of the members gathering in Columbia were here for the first bluegrass event the Stingers held. Cheryl Herring of Vancleave was one of those.
“I worked the ticket booth for the first one in Columbia,” Herring said. “A lot of us were here for that one. It was in March 1998. It was 19 degrees. I remember that it was so cold that the guys were in thermal coveralls. We had a lot of good times. I hope that it happens again here in Columbia.”
Sullivan was busy on the phone as the others talked and helped the occasional camper get settled at the Columbia Expo Center.
“I’ve been getting calls from people in Texas,” Sullivan said. “There are six rigs on their way from there now. We’ve had calls, calls, calls. In the past, when this was held, the lines would stretch all the way down (Mississippi) 35.”
The event features classic country, traditional bluegrass and even some bluegrass gospel, according to Sullivan.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Corvette Club is taking a ride up on Thursday, and there will be a quilting workshop at 2 p.m. Friday conducted by Carolyn Brown of Lucedale.
Tickets and camping hookups are on sale, with a three-day pass available for $80 or daily passes for $30. The mayor said keeping events at the Expo Center throughout the year is a top priority and that profits will be invested back into improving that city-owned facility.
Sullivan said bluegrass fans are a great group to hang out with and often see each other at shows across the country.
“We’re like bad pennies,” she said. “We show up here, there and everywhere.”
Pictured Above: RV enthusiasts sit outside the Columbia Expo Center Monday as they await the Mississippi Bluegrass Jamboree that begins today. Bertie Sullivan, center, on phone, has helped Mayor Justin McKenzie put together the festival. Attendees are traveling from several states to visit Columbia for the long weekend to hear bluegrass favorites on stage. | Photo by Mark Rogers
