The Partnership will host the ninth annual Pumpkinpalooza in downtown Starkville on Friday.
Partnership Special Events and Projects Coordinator Paige Watson said the event, which has become a fall mainstay for downtown Starkville, will feature a pumpkin patch, inflatable jumpers for children and more.
Pumpkinpalooza will begin at 5 p.m. and is scheduled to last through 7 p.m.
“We are excited,” Watson said. “It’s a very family event. Children and adults are encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costumes. Retailers in the Main Street district will have candy for trick-or-treaters. We’re excited this year to add a new element to it — we will have a petting zoo in the middle of Main Street.”
Watson said Pumpkinpalooza will also feature pumpkin painting by the Starkville Area Arts Council and face painting by the Mississippi State University Alumni Association’s Oktibbeha County chapter.
Main Street will close from Jackson Street to Washington Street beginning at 2 p.m. for Pumpkinpalooza’s setup, Watson said. The street will remain closed through the event, and roads are expected to be cleared by 7:30 p.m.
Pumpkinpalooza will coincide with Maroon Madness — a Mississippi State University event to celebrate the beginning of the men’s and women’s basketball seasons. Watson said a pep rally, featuring MSU’s spirit squads, will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Maroon Madness, which features the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters this year, is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Humphrey Coliseum on MSU’s campus.
“The cheerleaders will come, get you pepped up, and then you can go to Maroon Madness at 7:30,” Watson said.
Pumpkinpalooza coincides with MSU’s football game against Texas A&M University. While further events are scheduled for the two home football games after this week, such as next week’s Citywide Tailgate hosted by United Way, Watson said Pumpkinpalooza is the last of The Partnership’s New South Weekends events for the season.
Partnership Interim CEO Jennifer Prather said the event is an opportunity both for Starkville’s residents and visitors who are in town for the game.
“We’re looking forward to this event, not only for a fun opportunity for the community to come out and enjoy our downtown area, but it offers a great opportunity to really showcase the unique culture that we have in Starkville for the visitors who are here for football season,” Prather said.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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