Magnolia’s Pickle Festival last year was a surprise success, so organizers have made it a three-day event this year with a parade, contests and musical performances Saturday and Sunday.
The festival runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. A parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.
“It’s a fall festival that’s a little different,” event organizer Jimmie Harris said. “It promotes Pike County and showcases the town of Magnolia.”
The city will close East Railroad Avenue North at 5 p.m. on Friday in preparation for the event, and then all day Saturday and Sunday until 5 p.m.
Harris said there will be a pickle recipe contest that people can enter up until 5 p.m. Friday. Entrants can drop their samples off at the Creole Cottage in Magnolia. Judging begins at the Cottage at 5 p.m. Friday.
Harris said representatives from Alcorn State University will set up Friday morning at the Central House Village courtyard across from the Depot to demonstrate how cane syrup is made.
He said this and other home-grown product demonstrations are his way of promoting different aspects of agriculture in the area.
“This is our first year to invite the Mississippi Department of Agriculture,” Harris said. “We want to promote agricultural products available in our area.”
There will be amusement rides, bungee jumping, arts and crafts booths, food vendors, a Jamaican vendor, Cajun vendors, Italian ice, funnel-cakes and other “fair-food” favorites.
The “Pickle Parade” begins at 10 a.m. It starts near Eva Gordon Elementary School and runs through downtown. Harris said the parade takes the same route as the Magnolia Mardi Gras parade, and participants will throw candy. Entries for the parade will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday.
On Saturday the band “Bulletproof” will play from 1 to 5 p.m.
At 3 p.m. in the courtyard of the Central House Village, competition begins with a pickle-toss, a pickle-eating contest and a pickle juice drinking contest.
On Sunday, the “Cripple Man Band” will play from 1 to 5. “Cripple Man Band” plays current top 40 hits.
People interested in entering the pickle parade or pickle recipe contest may contact Harris at 341-5340.
