The 18th annual Bulldog Bash, billed as the state’s largest free outdoor concert, returns to its downtown roots with an expanded schedule that kicks off this afternoon.
The first few Bulldog Bash events were held downtown, before shifting east to the Cotton District. When a potential conflict arose with new construction at the site where the main stage was set up, the decision to move the event back to Main Street seemed the best permanent solution.
“I think the decision to move it back to Main Street was the best possible solution,” said Scott Maynard, executive director for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership. “Whatever inconveniences there are for merchants, as far as parking and access goes, is more than made up for by the thought of having 20,000 people right outside your front door.
“The fact that they are expanding it this year to include entertainment in the afternoon and adding the Maroon Market for artisans to set up along the streets is absolutely something people are excited about,” he added.
Bulldog Bash is a production of The Mississippi State University Student Association in conjunction with the city of Starkville. It is a showpiece for the university and city, and a major boost to merchants in the area.
“Hopefully it will be a big shot in the arm for the restaurants and shops downtown,” said Brian Kelly, who along with Ty Thames, owns four restaurants along the Main Street/Cotton District corridor. “Our original restaurant, Bin 612, is in the Cotton District and when Bulldog Bash was held there it was, by far, our biggest weekend. You’ve got 30,0000 to 40,000 people right out the door. It’s huge.”
This year, the entertainment will begin at 2 p.m., an expansion that Maynard says will bring a new demographic to the party.
“It’s been a night-time event until now and most of the people were college students and young alumni,” Maynard said. “Starting in the afternoon will bring more families out, so I think it only adds to the potential.”
Street closure began at 2 this morning and the final closures — Main Street from South Washington Street to Caldwell Street — comes at 5.
The stage will be located at Main and Jackson streets and will feature nine musical acts, which will culminate with this year’s headliner, the multi-platinum dance-rock group DNCE.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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