Visitors to the Golden Triangle will find a plethora of fun-filled events associated with Mississippi State University’s Super Bulldog Weekend and Starkville’s Cotton District Arts Festival, but rain could damper attendance figures.
The National Weather Service forecast a 60 percent chance of rain today, and thunderstorms could develop through the night. Saturday’s forecast is worse: an 80 percent chance of rain with likely thunderstorms. Precipitation is likely to fall Sunday.
This weekend marks the 30th annual SBW, which features MSU football, baseball and softball action. The men’s baseball team will face the No. 7-ranked University of Florida Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., while the Lady Bulldogs will play the No. 12-ranked University of Tennessee at 5:30 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
MSU’s annual Maroon-White spring game at Davis Wade Stadium begins 11 a.m. Saturday and will feature a passing of the torch between Bully XX Champ to his son Cristil’s Golden Prince – also known as Jak – who was named after famed MSU broadcaster Jack Cristil.
Additionally, a pig-cooking contest begins Friday, and its judging is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at the corner of Barr and Collegeview streets near McArthur Hall.
Admission to the spring football game and softball games is free.
Saturday’s Cotton District Arts Festival begins 8 a.m. and, weather permitting, will feature scores of artisans, vendors and music performances. From traditional crafts to pottery and jewelry, more than 150 individual sellers are expected at this year’s event.
Although weather could impact the festival’s run time and attendance, festival chairman Jon Turner said he remains optimistic this year’s event will be a success.
“We’re going to do the best we can, and I hope we can dodge the rain drops. We’ll do what we have to do if the weather is bad. If we have to scale (the festival) back by starting late or ending early, we’ll make that determination,” he said. “Unless we’ve got tornadoes or extremely huge downpours, we’re going to keep on moving forward.”
The festival, which highlights local and regional artisans, is in its second decade and drew about 40,000 visitors last year, Turner said.
“A lot of effort and love went in to make get the festival where it is today. We get vendors that create their own, locally produced products, we keep the food local and we get local and regional musical acts.
“That’s made a huge difference and created the festival’s own local flavor,” he said. “It may be a wet day, but we’re going to get in as much as possible.”
Turner said the Starkville Area Arts Council will publish any CDAF schedule updates produced by bad weather to the event’s Facebook page and the group’s Twitter account, @StarkvilleArts.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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