Food festivals dot the Mississippi summer calendar, giving communities the chance to celebrate heritage and harvest and chow down at the same time.
Here's a roundup.
Madison
Postponed from May 17 because of rain, Cajun Fest takes on the heat in the air as well as in the eats on June 28.
The family-oriented festival does its fais-do-do 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the tree-lined grounds of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, located at 4000 Tidewater Lane in Madison.
Crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, pulled pork sandwiches, red beans and rice and spicy boiled shrimp (crawfish aren't in season) will fill the tummies and music from several bands, including The Chill at 2 p.m., will fill the ears. Earlier, catch Gena Stringer at 11:30 a.m., Andre Jarreau at 12:15 p.m. and Variety Pack at 1 p.m.
Festival admission is free, with a charge for the children's games and the food. Hot dogs, chicken tenders, fries and funnel cakes, snocones and slushies will be available, too. Get there early, though. The last two years, the food was sold out by about 4 p.m.
Proceeds from this church fundraiser will go to St. Anthony Catholic Elementary School in Madison, set to open in August.
For details, call (601) 856-5556.
Crystal Springs
The 14th edition of the Crystal Springs Tomato Festival puts a juicy sheen on the town's streets June 27 with a farmer's market, arts and crafts, antique tractors, a gristmill, Hit & Miss Engines and more.
Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but folks are encouraged to come down earlier; most of the farmer's market vendors set up by 7 or 8 a.m. The Tomato Festival 5K Run/Walk is 8 a.m. and a 9 a.m. kiddie parade kicks off the fest.
"We have tomatoes out the wingwang," says Donna Wells, festival executive director. Plus, there's corn, watermelon, boiled and roasted peanuts, blueberries, jams and jellies. And plenty of food vendors, too, with ribeye steak sandwiches, blooming onions, fried green tomatoes and more.
The festival is free in downtown Crystal Springs. Browse more than 100 vendor booths with ironworks, hand-built swings and gliders, stained glass and much more. There's all-day musical entertainment.
On June 26, there's the 6 p.m. crowning of a new Tomato Queen, plus a Junior Auxiliary BBQ & Blue Jeans event and street dance, and a Humpty Dumpty hot air balloon glow.
About 7,000 to 8,000 turn out to celebrate the town's heritage. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Crystal Springs earned the label "Tomatopolis of the World" for shipping the most produce and tomatoes in the country, Wells says.
For details, call (601) 892-2711 or visit www.crystalspringsmiss.com.
Kosciusko
Kosciusko's June Jam, held each year on the last Friday of June, is an opportunity for local barbecue enthusiasts to put their cuisine to the test.
Beginning at 11 a.m.June 26, the barbecue competition lasts all afternoon. In addition to smokehouse staples like ribs and pulled pork, contestants often get creative (barbecue nachos anyone?).
"One year we had a guy cooking his in a refrigerator," adds Tonya Threat, a festival organizer.
Winners, who receive a trophy and a cash prize, are announced at a 6:30 p.m. concert featuring The Chill, a classic rock band from Vicksburg.
"It's a fun day," says Threat. "Good food, good music, great atmosphere."
Admission is free and the festivities take place on historic Court Square at 124 N. Jackson St. For details, call (662) 289-2981.
Jackson
Next week, The Auditorium, with support from WAPT-Channel 16 in Fondren, hosts The Battle of the Burger, a new culinary competition.
Contestants can sign up for free either at The Auditorium or via www.wapt.com. The deadline for entry is today. The competition begins at 4 p.m. July 2. For details, call (601) 982-0002.
Corinth
Up north, in the town of Corinth, a famous sandwich with an odd name has its day(s) in the sun with the Slugburger Festival, which takes place July 9-11.
The slugburger, despite its unappetizing moniker, has been a Corinth delicacy for decades, dating back to World War I by some accounts. The name comes from the fact that they cost a nickel, or slug, apiece back then.
"There are no slugs involved in the making of a slugburger," assures Kelly Rinehart, manager of Corinth Main Street.
The slugburger is made from beef or pork mixed with a grain like soymeal, then fried in oil.
Rinehart falters when attempting to describe the taste.
"It's an indescribable delight," she says.
In addition to slugburgers aplenty, the festival includes such attractions as Slug Idol, a singing contest hosted by Elvis impersonator Tommy Broader, and performances by bands like Crossin Dixon and Rocket 88.
The festival is free and begins at 6 p.m. each day. For details, call (662) 287-1550.
Mize
Next month, mark your calendar for July 17-18, and the Mississippi Watermelon Festival in Mize.
Admission is $5 adults, $3 children younger than 10 each day for more fun than you can spit a seed at. A gospel sing highlights the festival July 17, 5-9 p.m.
Gates open back up at 8:30 a.m. July 18, with arts and crafts, food vendors, a motorcycle rally, car show, carnival and more at Mize City Park.
J.D. Barrett and the Country Boys with Marie Clinton entertain throughout the day and a concert by Shenandoah at 8 p.m. kickstarts the night.
Watermelon games are a highlight, from seed-spitting and watermelon-eating contests to a greased watermelon relay race. The watermelon-eating contest is a biggie.
"We weigh them and put them on the table, so we can know who eats what," says festival coordinator Terresa Stewart. "They always get it all over them."
You don't need to be competitive to get a taste, though. Free watermelon, donated by Adcox Farms in Mize, is available all day. "As long as people want it, we'll slice it and feed it to them."
Get a gander, too, at the summer's biggest watermelon there. Past years' whoppers have weighed in from 90 to 130 pounds.
For details, call (601) 733-5647 or visit mswatermelonfestival.com.
