An afternoon of food and fun is planned before the Oct. 5 Columbia High School football game against Tylertown.
Community Spirit Day will feature tailgating, games and more in City Park/Friendship Park before the game at nearby Walter Payton Field at Gardner Stadium. The event is organized by the Columbia School District’s Parent Teacher Associations.
“All the school PTAs are working together on this,” David Lowery, a PTA member who is helping to coordinate the event, said. “People can start setting up their tents at 8 a.m. It’s open for anybody: businesses, parents, alumni. Several groups and businesses will have tents there including Walmart and American Legion Post 90. There will even be a voter registration table set up.”
The tailgating event will also feature two competitions: one for the tent displaying the best Wildcat spirit and the other for the food. A panel of judges will visit the tents at 6 p.m., and the winners will be announced at halftime.
The Mississippi Army National Guard will have a game trailer set up, and the Columbia Fire Department will have a truck on display and a tent set up.
Lowery said there’s no charge and anyone can come set up on a first-come, first-serve basis. You can register for the contest at 3 p.m. at the PTA tent.
For more information, call Lowery at (601) 441-0910.
The game itself will feature a special time for the military.
“It is the night of the Marching Wildcats’ Patriotic Show,” Lowery said. “There will be a special recognition for military personnel, both veterans and active duty, at halftime. Military also get in free to the game. It’s also Pink Out night where cancer survivors are honored. We’re hoping for a big turnout.”
