The 53rd annual Heritage Festival will bring thousands of visitors to City Park Saturday.
The Marion County Historical Society expects a crowd of more than 4,000 to attend from all over Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. The event will feature more than 60 vendor booths along with lots of food and entertainment.
Things kick off with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. with American Legion Post 90 honoring Vietnam veterans and recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.
Events continue on the stage with the announcement of the winners of the second annual Zellco Federal Credit Union essay contest. This year’s essay was on Columbia’s bicentennial.
The William Carey University Knights of Jazz will entertain from 10 a.m. until noon, and at noon Freedom Ranch Birds of Prey, sponsored by Citizens Bank, will be the entertainment.
Columbia native and former WJDR Country Showdown and Midsouth National Country Showdown finalist Elsie will be in concert from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. Elsie’s appearance is sponsored by Trustmark Bank.
The WJDR Country Showdown takes the stage at 2 p.m. and will feature a host of local talent, which will be judged by a local panel. The Showdown is part of America’s largest country music talent show, and the winner advances to the state competition and possibly regional and national levels.
Vendor booths include arts, crafts, baked goods, organizations, local businesses, a special antique yard sale section and health organizations. Other special exhibits will come from the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department, Columbia-Marion County Animal Shelter, a working grist mill, antique engines and tractors and more. The annual Friends of the Library Book Sale at 9 a.m. at the Columbia-Marion County Public Library. Children’s books will be on display outside the library, with other books available for purchase indoors.
A variety of food and snacks will be available from barbecue plates, fish, hamburgers, sausage dogs, snowballs, funnel cakes, cotton candy, peanuts, jams, jellies, honey and more.
For more information, contact the historical society at (601) 731-3999.
Pictured Above: Volunteers from the Marion County Historical Society are making preparations for the Heritage Fest coming up Saturday at City Park. From left are Ken Knopp, Gabriel Roberts, Kelly Roberts, Rachel Baker, Regina Baker and Remington Baker. See pages 6A and 7A for a map of vendors, food and exhibits at the Heritage Fest. | Photo by Charlie Smith
