This year’s Tallahatchie RiverFest, set for Sept. 24 and 25, will be headlined by Marty Stuart and The Fabulous Superlatives, well-known recording artist and host of his own TV show.
The special literary guest will be popular horticulturist Felder Rushing.
The annual festival will again center on the Union County Courthouse lawn and most of the events will be Friday night or throughout the day Saturday.
The literary part of the festival will be Thursday and Friday, with one highlight being a live broadcast of Rushing’s weekly public radio program, “The Gestalt Gardener,” from the Magnolia Civic Center.
Returning features include the BNA Bank Tallahatchie RiverRun 5K and fun run, Main Street’s “Paint the Town,” activities for kids, a wide variety of arts, crafts and food vendors and, of course, nearly non-stop music. Among new events will be the Tallahatchie Arts Council-sponsored Rock Bottom Poker Run.
The Tallahatchie RiverFest, sponsored in part by the City of New Albany, is coordinated by the Union County Development Association. Virtually all the events are free to the public and last year, an estimated 10,000 attended.
The KidsFest area will once again be dedicated to entertainment activities and vendors whose products and services are oriented toward children. Cookie decorating by Sugarees, face painting by the Anchor Club, Paint the Town and several vendors will be strategically located for the children. A new group of inflatables will be in the Regions Bank parking lot where children can jump, climb and slide to their hearts’ content for a nominal fee. As always, Tallahatchie RiverFest is a family-friendly event.
This is the seventh year New Albany Main Street Association is sponsoring “Paint the Town,” a free art activity during the upcoming Tallahatchie RiverFest. All children are invited to the Magnolia Civic Center on Saturday, September 25, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Parents must accompany their children.
Historical photos of downtown New Albany will be displayed and children will draw or paint their interpretation of the photos. A variety of art media will be on hand such as oil pastels, paint, markers, crayons, and colored pencils.
The art pieces will be judged and winners will be announced from the Bob Johnson stage (Main Stage) at 3 p.m. The art can then be picked up until 3:30 p.m. at the civic center.
For more information contact Vickie Duke, New Albany Main Street Manager at 534-3438.
This year’s T-shirt is once again designed by New Albany native Leslie Gray. Gray is a graphic designer and owner of ‘Gray & Co.’. T-Shirts are $13 for youth x-small through adult x-large; $14 for xx-large; and $15 for xxx-large. T-Shirts will go on sale September 1st at the UCDA office and will be available on Saturday of the festival at the Hospitality Tent. For more information call 534-4354.
The music part of the program will include some returning favorites and new faces as well representing gospel, blues, rock and country styles.
Stuart will perform at 9 p.m. Saturday, preceded by the Mosley and Johnson Band with the Muscle Shoals Horns and, before that, KingBilly.
More information about the various events will be made available next week but below is a tentative schedule:
RiverFest Schedule:
• 5:45 p.m. Opening Ceremonies
• 6 p.m. Allison’s Rage
• 7:30 p.m. Busted Screen Door
• 9 p.m. Jeff Allen
- Saturday Morning, Sept. 25
• 7 p.m. Vendors Setup
• 8:30 p.m. BNA Bank 5k Run
• 9 p.m. Vendors Open
• 10 p.m. Paint the Town
• 11 p.m. Rock Bottom River Poker Run
Registration – Union County Historical Museum
• 12 p.m. Music Begins on Bob Johnson Memorial Stage
• 12 – 1 p.m. Victory Life Singers
• 1 – 1:30 p.m Victoria Botts
• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Charley Kyles
• 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. White Horizon
• 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. James Pirkle Blues Band
• 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. NEMCC Campus Country
• 6 p.m. KingBilly
• 7:20 p.m. “Best Seat in the House” Presentation
• 7:30 p.m. The Mosley and Johnson Band
with the Muscle Shoals Horns
• 9 p.m. Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
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