You’ve seen signs across the state, designating certain towns as Mississippi Main Streets, but what does that exactly mean? If you’re a lover of downtowns, historic buildings and mom and pop businesses, the answer to that question is pretty crucial. Mississippi Main Street is a statewide organization and it’s a part of a nationwide movement that has been going strong since the 80s. Its mission is to save and revitalize historic downtown districts.
The town you live in may be apart of this effort, and if so, your downtown area is probably better for it. That’s certainly the case in downtown Pascagoula where volunteers, led by Pascagoula Main Street program manager Rebecca Davis, work tirelessly to improve their downtown district.
Mississippi downtown commercial districts tend to be small, sometimes only comprised of a few blocks and intersections, but they represent the story of their respective cities and the people who formed them. Pascagoula’s downtown, centered on charming Delmas Avenue, offers boutique shopping, casual dining and warm breezes rolling in off the Pascagoula River where it flows into the Mississippi Sound of the Gulf of Mexico. With incredible sunsets and so much access to nature, it’s no wonder that the local community is given to an artistic bent.
For this reason, Pascagoula Main Street members decided to develop an event that would showcase their downtown area and community arts to residents and visitors. Planning for the festival began early in 2005, but the volunteers were faced with a massive hurdle later that year that would impact the entire Gulf Coast for the next decade.
“Katrina turned our world upside down,” said Davis. “Needless to say, we didn’t have the first festival until 2010.”
That year began an annual tradition that would incorporate the arts, local cuisine, live music and community gathering into the downtown area. The Live Oak Arts Festival, now in its 7th year, has become an anticipated good time for the Pascagoula community and a way for local artists and businesses to showcase and sell their work. This year’s event will also include a cornhole tournament and an antique car show. In 2015, more than 100 vendors applied to participate and festival planners look forward to a packed event again on Saturday, May 14. There’s much debate as to the best part of the fest — whether that’s the food, the shopping, the live music or the fact that it’s completely free to attend — but Davis knows what she enjoys the most. Her enthusiasm for downtown and the Pascagoula community is infectious.
“Getting to see the artists and the great people who come to the festival every year is my favorite part,” she said. “I sure do like to get the hugs!”
7th Annual Live Oak Arts Festival
Saturday, May 14 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Downtown Pascagoula
Saturday, May 14 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Downtown Pascagoula
0 comments:
Post a Comment