The Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its annual Stars & Stripes Festival and Community Picnic.
The free event will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday at the park between the Keesler and Veterans bridges.
“This is a very family-oriented event,” said Caroline Stuckey, co-chair of the Stars & Stripes planning committee. “We don’t make money off this event. This is an event for the town and for the kids to enjoy.”
Stars & Stripes continues to grow in attendance each year and usually draws thousands of people to the park. Its central and scenic location is part of its success.
“Stars & Stripes is a very unified event. Everybody comes together and has fun,” said Stuckey.
This year, the event will feature two performing acts.
Gunboat, a rock band featuring Greenwood natives, will kick off the festivities at 6 p.m.
AJC and the Envelope Pushers of Brandon will follow at 7:30 p.m. The group performs multi-genre music, including hip hop, jazz, rock, R&B, soul, reggae, Latin, country, pop and gospel.
“We love Gunboat. We go see them every time they have a show in town,” said Stuckey. “I’ve heard a lot of great things about this group coming from the Jackson area, too.”
Each year, Stars & Stripes features a variety of activities for children of all ages.
ArtPlace Mississippi will provide free arts and crafts activities, where children can make their own super hero capes and masks.
ArtPlace will also provide face painting, a bean bag toss, a washer toss and a giant Jenga game.
Other children’s activities include inflatables, and the splash pad at the arboretum will also be turned on.
“I love watching the kids in the bouncers,” said Stuckey, who is a mother of two. “Usually you do the bouncers first, and then you venture toward the other stuff.”
Proceeds from the wristband sales will benefit the Chamber of Commerce’s 2016-17 Leadership Greenwood class project. The class members are currently raising money for a much-needed upgrade of the Community Kitchen’s deep freezers.
Stars & Stripes will also feature a boat parade on the Yazoo River.
Stuckey said that local boat owners are encouraged to enter the parade. Boats should be decorated in a patriotic theme — red, white and blue banners, streamers and balloons and American flags.
About five to seven boats enter the parade each year. There is no entry fee, and the owner of the best-decorated boat wins $100.
Stars & Stripes will also include a veterans’ tribute, and members of the American Legion Post 29 and Post 200 will attend.
Greenwood Market Place will bring back its popular tent, where free watermelon slices will be handed out while supplies last.
The event will also feature food vendors selling a variety of items, such as burgers, hot dogs, chicken on a stick, popcorn, cotton candy, lemonade, Polish sausage, snow cones and more.
“My kids do not ever leave there without getting a funnel cake,” said Stuckey.
This year, two different groups will be selling funnel cakes. Each year, the food vendors are area churches.
Food trucks, such as Wingtopia, will also be at the event this year.
Those attending Stars & Stripes, however, can opt to pack a meal and have a picnic in the park, too. The event is family friendly, and alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
The Stars & Stripes festival will once again be capped by an elaborate fireworks show over the Veterans Bridge. Festival-goers will watch the bright display in the sky as well as the reflection on the river.
“The fireworks are so much fun for the kids,” said Stuckey. “They love it. It’s the best part for them.”
Stars & Stripes attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.
Those who are interested in participating in the boat parade can call the chamber at 453-4152.
• Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
