Five Star City Fest kicks off this coming weekend in Senatobia

After months of planning, our week is finally here!  The first annual Five Star City Fest is set for this Friday, May 9; and Saturday, May 10 in Downtown Senatobia.  When the festival committee gathered in January and began thinking about this new two-day, much-expanded festival, we all glazed over with a look of disbelief.

Penny Hawks Frazier, festival chair, and Don Embry, director of Parks and Recreation,  discuss banner placement for the Kid's Fest area.

Why would this group meet hours on end, make phone calls, send texts, check email, organize food vendors, map out logistics of downtown, design banners and ads, make almost daily posts to our Facebook page; talk to bands, talk to beverage companies, talk to arts and crafts vendors; recruit sponsors and volunteers, deliver posters to merchants, book entertainment for Friday and all day Saturday on two stages?  I'm sure I left out something. It was more than you can imagine.

The Festival Committee begins work in January. 

Why, I asked?  Because it is obvious that we love Senatobia. Our Facebook page last week reached 3,700 people, with 548 of them actively engaged in the posts.  Not only are native Senatobians interested in the Revitalization and Restoration of Downtown, but also newcomers to the area.

Response from the community has been unbelievable.  Sponsors were proud to be a part of this new effort. Volunteers, almost 100 of them, signed up for the many jobs required for a festival of this type.

One of the many vendors, Frugal Frocks, from Senatobia.

Nothing would make me happier than to see this festival blow a breeze of renewal into our community. From here, there are so many possibilities.

Come out Friday night for the Downtown Dash, crawfish and shrimp boil and other great food, and entertainment by Mark "Mule Man" Massey, The Burning Magnolias, and Dr. Zarr's Amazing Funk Monster.

Saturday you can visit nearly 75 arts and crafts vendors, listen to more great entertainment, go to the car show, check out the food court, and see the vastly-improved Kid's Fest activities.  It's gonna be great!  Rain or shine.

Lane and Susan Tutor at the 2012 May Fair. Tutor has been the
longest participating arts and crafts vendor since the original festival began 20 years ago. 

Senatobia's Mark "Mule Man" Massey will kick off entertainment Friday night at 6 p.m. followed by Burning Magnolias and featuring Dr. Zarr's Amazing Funk Monster. Tickets are $5, and children under 12 when accompanied by an adult, will be admitted free.

Glenda Neal, TCEDF, and Volunteer Kay Minton, sort directional signs.