On Saturday, the Cotton District will be filled with live music, tempting smells from Starkville area restaurants, and the bold and intriguing creations of Starkville artisans. From 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., University Drive, Maxwell Street and Page Avenue will host the Cotton District Arts Festival.
“The Cotton District Arts Festival represents a collaborative effort to showcase the arts in our community in a beautiful setting. We want to make the arts available to everyone possible, and have a number of events that include a variety of diverse interests,” Arts Council president Bill Andrews said in a press release.
The festivities begin at 8 a.m. with the Old Cotton Mill 5K Run. The name for the race came from the Cotton District’s past, when it used to be a collection of houses and shanties that provided housing for those that worked at the cotton mill, which used to be located at what is now the now E.E. Cooley Building.
“The Cotton District Arts Festival will be a full day of activities,” council chair for the Artisans’ Village Committee said.
The Artisans’ Village will open at 9 a.m. There are over 50 booths this year, which is a hefty increase from last year. The booths will feature such arts and crafts as jewelry, stained glass, photography, pottery, hand-made purses, candles, soaps, heirlooms, woodworking, a blacksmith doing metal work, painters, children’s art and furniture, baskets and mosaics.
At 9:30 a.m. the live entertainment will begin. There will be three stages featured at the festival. The following bands will play at Main Stage: Maskers Washboard Band at 9:30; Blake Thornell at 10:15; bluegrass band Nash Street at 11; country recording artist Brandi Shurden at noon; the Puerto Rican Rum Drunks headline at 1:15; rock and roll band Planter’s Row at 2:30 and The Flames at 3:30. the Main Stage is located on Page Street.
On University Drive, the musical performances begin at 11:00 a.m. The bands performing on the University Stage are as follows: oldies band Beta Blockers at 11; Indie rock band Persians at noon; Young Agent Jones at 1:45; Euro-rock band Sound of Mind at 2:30 and the Cash County Survivors at 3:30. Also featured on this stage will be Debbie Funderburk’s Mississippi State University dance classes.
The third stage, the SAAC (Starkville Area Arts Council) Stage, will be located beside the Cotton District Grill. Featured at the stage are the following: Arnold-Peter’s Happy Singers at 9:30; Eclectic Al at 10; Vic Zitta’s Gospel Bluegrass at 10:30; acoustic guitarist Bill Cooke at 11:15; Woodwind Quartet at 12:15; Heritage Jazz Band at 1:30; MUW Jazz Band at 2:15; Brooke and Jimmy K at 3 and Jay & Steve at 3:45.
Beginning at 10 a.m. will be both the Pet Parade and the opening of the children’s village. The Pet Parade will go from campus to Main Stage. The Children’s Village will be located on the corner of University Drive and Page Avenue. At the Children’s Village, there will be art projects, games, clowns, and even a train ride.
The Cotton District Arts Festival will also feature A Taste of Starkville, where all of the Starkville-area restaurants will be showing off their culinary talents. This event will take place on University Drive.
Other activities to discover at the festival are the Medieval Village, juried art show, flower show, varied vrt show, architectural tours and the Bully Art Show and Auction. The Bully Art Show is where MSU fraternities and sororities painted concrete bulldogs, which will be silently auctioned at the festival.
Last years attendance to the festival was estimated to be around 8,000. This year, the festival is expected to bring 10,000. To alleviate parking problems, a shuttle will run from the Bost Extension Center to the Cotton District throughout the day.