Normally populated by about 4,500 residents, Leland more than doubled as the Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Festival opened for the first time.
Normally populated by about 4,500 residents, Leland in Washington County more than doubled on May 3 and 4 as the inaugural Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Festival opened.
“We were having several little festivals in town each year, so we decided to incorporate them all into one big festival,” said Mark King, festival co-chairman and Leland Chamber of Commerce vice president along with chamber president Rob Baker. “We wanted to attract a big crowd to draw attention to the Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Museum. I estimate we had about 10,000 people come to town in two days for the festival.”
The new festival combined the existing Steve Azar’s Mockingbird Music Festival, the 32nd annual Leland Crawfish Festival, the longest running crawfish festival in Mississippi, and Frog Fest, an event to honor native son Jim Henson and his Muppet creations. The city blocked off most of downtown for the festivities.
“It was a community wide effort,” King said. “Many people came together and volunteered to help put on this festival. Cicero’s restaurant got crawfish from Louisiana and donated their labor and equipment to cook 2,800 pounds of crawfish.”
The festival provided entertainment for all ages. Live music from multiple bands and performers played throughout the event. Jason Reynolds Fetch-n-Fish brought a 10,000-gallon tank full of fish and entertained everyone with his leaping dogs. Multiple vendors and other organizations ran booths to sell food and to show off their products or services.
“This festival was a great opportunity for people to come in and see our town,” said Cedric C. Bush, Washington County Justice Court judge and owner of Bush’s Kountry Café in the middle of the festivities at 117 East Third Street. “Everybody came together from every walk of life here on the streets of Leland enjoying themselves. When they got hot, they could come in the café for the air conditioning, a cool drink, and the best tasting catfish anywhere.”
The Leland Volunteer Fire Department erected bouncy houses, trampolines with bungee cords, and other things to entertain children. About 90 youngsters, 15 years old and younger, showed up to participate in the kids fishing rodeo at Deer Creek.
“We had a great kids fishing rodeo,” said “Big” Mike Jones, roving reporter for Redneck Adventures TV. “Each child received a rod and reel and a small tackle box full of everything they needed to fish, all donated by Fisherman’s Haven, which is now OK Fishing. We also gave them each a box of worms, provided by Redneck Adventures TV and Bait-n-Thangs Outdoors in Chatham. Each child also received a medal. We gave everyone who wanted one a free Bible. Everyone had a great time.”
We had people come from all over to attend the festival. We had 13 speakers at the museum. We had turkey call makers, champion duck callers, deer specialists and more. We tried to give everyone a broad spectrum of events.
The festival drew attention to the Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Museum and Mississippi Outdoor Hall of Fame, located at 304 N. Broad Street. The museum serves to preserve the history, heritage, and outdoors traditions of the Magnolia State and educate the public on its vast natural resources.
“We had people come from all over to attend the festival,” Billy Johnson, president of the Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Foundation, said. “We had 13 speakers at the museum. We had turkey call makers, champion duck callers, deer specialists and more. We tried to give everyone a broad spectrum of events. I thank all the sponsors, volunteers, and all the people who came to the festival.”
Leland visitors might also wish to tour the Jim Henson Exhibit at 415 S. Deer Creek Drive or the Highway 61 Blues Museum at 307 N. Broad Street.
For more information, contact the Leland Chamber of Commerce at 662-379-3764 or see www.lelandchamber.com.
