The year-long celebration of Starkville’s 175th birthday will culminate Saturday with a parade down Main Street beginning at 9 a.m.
The event, which will be followed by a party, is being hosted by Greater Starkville Development Partnership.
“We really view this parade as a feature of everything Starkville and Oktibbeha County have to offer,” GSDP Special Events and Projects Coordinator Jennifer Prather said. “Civic groups, businesses, community organizations, they will all be there.”
Prather said she is particularly proud that three of the oldest businesses in the area, East Mississippi Lumber Company, Oktibbeha County Co-Op and Clark Beverage Company, will participate in the parade.
“These are pillars in our community,” Prather said. “It almost wouldn’t be right if they weren’t a part of this.”
In keeping with the parade’s historic context, the last milking dairy famer in Oktibbeha County, John T. McReynolds, and his cow, Jasmine, will also be on hand Saturday.
The parade will leave from Regions Bank downtown and run west down Main Street toward the courthouse annex.
A party, complete with cupcakes and other birthday favorites, will take place in the Cadence Bank plaza immediately following the parade.
There will also be an inflatable jumper and games for kids. The Oktibbeha County Cattlemen’s Association will provide lunch plates for $4.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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