The annual Prairie Arts Festival in West Point will be held Saturday and is set to be a return to form for the event after the COVID-19 pandemic affected the last two years.
“I’m excited to be returning to the Prairie Arts Festival that we’ve known for so long,” said Lisa Klutts, director for community development with the West Point Clay County Growth Alliance. “After making changes and some cut backs for the past two years, I am just excited to see it back to normal again.”
This year’s festival will see 200 vendors.
There will be more than 20 food vendors including festival favorites such as funnel cakes and snowcones, as well as newcomers such as Lost Pizza Company.
There will also be arts and crafts vendors and Kidtown.
“We have a good number of returning vendors, but we also look forward to new vendors, and that’s with any typical year,” she said. “At this point, we always have to turn vendors away because we are full.”
Klutts said the organization is preparing for at least 20,000 people to attend this year, and with the Mississippi State home football game against Memphis not starting until 6:30 p.m., she hopes that more people will stay longer as well.
The festival will kick off with a 5K through downtown. Pre-registration is available before Saturday either online via the link on the event’s website or by filling out an application at the Growth Alliance office.
On-site registration will open the morning of the race at 7 a.m. The race begins at 8, and the winners in each of the 17 different categories will be announced at the conclusion, about 9, at the gazebo.
There will be live music at three different locations throughout the day.
The main stage, which will be in front of the library, will host The Crowns of Joy, Mississippi Mason, Old Memphis Kings and The Garrett Oswalt Band.
The gazebo stage in the park will have Gypsy Priest, Chad Peavy, Committed and Ricky Langford.
The third location will be artists playing in the street, and it will include Terry “Harmonica” Bean, Kolt Hudson and Paul Brady.
Thirty juried artists will be competing, in five categories, for Best of Show in Painting; Pottery and Sculpture; Photography; Wood, Glass, Fiber and Jewelry; and Mixed media, graphics and drawing. All of these will take place in the park.
Kidtown will feature rides like the swings, tea cups and pony rides, as well as face painting, a mechanical bull, inflatables and various vendors for kids to shop.
The Southern Cruisers Car Club of Mississippi will be hosting a cruise-in, at the Mossy Oak Mall, in conjunction with the festival. The event will raise money for St. Jude Hospital.
“The community always looks forward to Labor Day Weekend and this long standing tradition,” Klutts said.
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