STARKVILLE — “Fun, food, music, art, what’s not to love?”
This is how Starkville Area Arts Council Executive Director Mary Switzer described the Cotton District Arts Festival, which will be taking over the neighborhood between downtown and Mississippi State University from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday.
“The Cotton District Arts Festival is a showcase of at least 100 artisans from Mississippi and the South in general,” Switzer said. “… My favorite part is bringing the community together and bringing visitors from outside of our town in to see what Mississippi has to offer as far as art and food and music.”
This year, Switzer said, the festival includes the International Village, the Children’s Village, Taste of Starkville (including about 14 food vendors), the Juried Arts Show, three music stages and the Artisan’s Village.
The Artisan’s Village, the largest part of the festival, includes art vendors of all mediums, including painting, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, photography, basketry and more, along with other crafts. SAAC Program Coordinator Juliette Reid said the Artisan’s Village makes the CDAF unique, as volunteers carefully select artisans to ensure the highest quality and diversity of products.
“CDAF is a completely juried festival,” Reid said. “That means we have volunteers who review every application to ensure quality and individuality. No two vendors are making the same product or serving the same dish and all products are made by the artisans.”
The festival’s three stages will also be hosting more than 30 performances. The East and West stages will host musical artists Honeyboy and Boots, Kaciny, Christina Alford, Empty Atlas, Three Amigos, Mississippi Shakedown, Make it to May and more.
The South Stage will be hosting the Pet Parade, a welcome by Mayor Lynn Spruill, performances from the International Village and theater and improv performances. Full schedules for all performances are available online at cdafestival.com.
Reid estimated that the festival attracts between 20,000-25,000 attendees to the city per year. The faces of the attendees, she said, are her favorite part of the festival, as she loves getting to see their reactions to the art and the music on the day.
“I’m so excited to be able to do this every year,” Reid said. “I love doing it. It’s so fun. I just can’t wait until it comes around every year.”
Reid said volunteers help with every part of the festival, including volunteers from Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, Starkville Strong, the Mississippi State University Department of Art, and civic organizations who help to coordinate villages. More volunteers are still needed to help run this year’s festival, including day-of set up and clean up, and can sign up through the festival’s website.
Parking is available on the MSU campus or at the Mill at MSU. Reid said the festival will go on rain or shine, and the plan will only change in the case of lightning or more severe weather.
How to go
■ WHAT: Cotton District Arts Festival
■ WHEN: Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
■ WHERE: Cotton District, Starkville
■ HOW: Parking at The Mill or on MSU campus
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