Cindy Melby”s travels throughout the country with the band Nash Street opened her eyes to what events small towns can host with limited budgets.
Melby, whose two daughters, Caroline and Hannah, are members of Nash Street, has studied event venues and planning in cities of all sizes.
But as a Starkville resident, she especially took note of the galvanizing spirit of small-town festivals. Whether it was youth sporting events, car shows, bands or all three rolled into one event, the community-oriented theme always made for a great venue.
“I think it”s healthy for a community,” Melby said. “So I thought, why not in Starkville?”
Four months ago, Melby approached Starkville Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Rye with an idea for a one-day event that featured something for everyone. The result of the collaboration will culminate with Rockin” the Park on Sept. 17 at the Starkville Sportsplex.
The event will feature sports competitions for kids in grades kindergarten through 12th, as well as dunking booths, six inflatable castles, door prizes and fireworks. The Southern Cruisers Car Club will also have a car show.
Sticking with the theme of community involvement, the event will feature a celebrity softball game with Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman and Mississippi State University Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin serving as team captains.
“We wanted to do something that provided an event with true family atmosphere,” Rye said. “We also wanted to make it kind of a celebration for not only our community, but the entire Golden Triangle. We”re excited and hope this can be an annual event.”
Rockin” the Park”s biggest attraction will be the three-act concert that”ll precede the fireworks show at 6 p.m. Country singer Brinley Addington, local ”50-”60s band C-plus and country-rock band Scarletta, which features former Trick Pony member Aubrey Collins.
Rye said the biggest expense Parks and Rec has in putting on the event was hiring a quality stage and lighting technician.
Admission is $5 per person and free for children 6 years old and younger.
“We wanted to keep the cost low but we didn”t want to compromise quality,” Rye said.
Melby hopes the music portion of the event will make it identifiable as an annual fixture in Starkville. She hopes a community-assembled choir of local school and youth ensembles that will sing the “Star Spangled Banner” will be one of the annual highlights.
“I get excited about Cotton District (Arts Festival) and other events like that, but I especially like this event because of the ownership of the entire community,” Melby said. “I think this event is unique because it connects the university and its students with the community.”
Starkville Junior Auxiliary, Starkville Baseball Association, Starkville Soccer Association and GoPlay Initiative are organizing partners.
Sponsors of the celebrity ball game and athletic competitions are Starkville native and current NBA player Travis Outlaw and Coca-Cola.
“I made one phone call to each group and they were on board,” Rye said. “We had one meeting between all the groups and we left knowing what each was doing. I don”t know of another event quite like this.”
For more information on Rockin” the Park, call Starkville Parks and Recreation at 662-323-2294.
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