On September 23, everyone is invited to come out to Archusa Creek Water Park and enjoy the 2023 Clarke Fest, where there will be an array of activities and entertainment for all to enjoy.
There will be different activities that people are able to pay to be a part of that day. The open car show will take place again and will have cash prizes, a 50/50 drawing, and door prizes. The last two years have featured more than 100 cars on display, and this year they expect the same outstanding turnout. There will also be inflatable jump houses and pony rides available for the children. The Chamber of Commerce pavilion will be offering a 50/50 drawing where the winner keeps half of the proceeds. They also plan for there to be a corn hole tournament at 10:00 a.m. where the winning team collects half of the proceeds.
For the children, they will include “Little Feet Street” with a variety of free activities. There are plans for all of the following to be included in “Little Feet Street”: face painting, cake walk, apple bob, sack races, reading corner, fishing booth, duck pond, balloons giveaway, MS Children’s Books/Information/Library Commission, and a children’s exhibit.
Some of the businesses that plan to attend this year’s event include Outreach Health Services from Shubuta, Quitman Small Engines, and Sun South from Meridian.
People attending can enjoy a variety of crafts and information vendors at the event. The Clarke County Chamber of Commerce will be selling chances to win a gift basket that is worth over $1,000. A&J Cutlery will be there with pocketknives. Ashley Anthony will be there providing tumblers, home décor, and more. Deb Antrin will have a booth selling wooden church birdhouses, bird feeders, door hangers, and angels. C Lasting Mpressions will offer crochet and accessories. Dawn Early will have a book signing for her release of Satan, Suicide, and Sanctuary. Sanya Evans will be offering beaded jewelry, stained glass, paracord bracelets, and candles. Tonya Files will have 31 bags and totes. Sharnician Harns will be selling handmade children’s clothing. Kasandra Mazingo will have assorted wholesale items. Pink Alligator will be there with sterling silver and collegiate jewelry, cooler totes, and earrings. R”rawtalent”T will have handmade children’s clothes, pool noodles, and more. Richelle Smith will have a booth for Avon. Scottie Sutton and Jim Potuk will have a booth to display and demonstrate antique windup phonographs. Wahlercolor Studio will also be there with acrylic paintings and jewelry.
For anyone who is hungry, there will be different food vendors available. Cooks Rib Pit will have ribs, chicken and brisket plates, and brisket and pulled pork sandwiches. Jabo’s Eats and Treats will offer smoked turkey legs. Kona Ice will be there to provide snow cones. The Little Griddle will be there with foot long corndogs, chicken strips, chicken strip baskets, fries, cheese fries, chili cheese fries, loaded fries, nachos, chili cheese nachos, funnel cake, and deep fried oreos. Kenneth Pearson will be offering hamburgers and Polish sausages. Pig Out will have pork skins, roasted corn, ribeye sandwiches, chicken on a stick, fries, loaded fries, sausage dogs, corndogs, lemonade, and tea. Sno Biz will have shaved ice.
There will also be some non-profit organizations there with information. Emergency Management’s Mobile Unit will be there. East Quitman Assembly will be offering information and water. Mary Grantham will be there to provide information on how to become foster parents. Excel by 5 will be passing out information. Sally Wedgeworth will be there to help with voter registration and will have boiled peanuts. Creature Comforts will also attend and have some pets available for adoption.
With the election coming in November, there will also be various political booths and candidates at the event to meet people and answer any questions. Attending will be the Clarke County Republican Party, Lynnita Bartee running for Chancery Clerk, Anthony Chancelor running for Sheriff, Scott Evans running for Supervisor of District 5, Mickey Long running for Supervisor of District 5, Bryan McLaughlin running for Justice Court Judge of District 1, Friends to Elect McKenzie for Sheriff, Kenneth Pearson running for Sheriff, and Leanne Volking running for Chancery Clerk. Candidates will be allowed to speak in five-minute intervals throughout the day.
There will be a blood drive by Vitalant for anyone who would like to donate blood to save a life.
Some great entertainment is scheduled to take place. The following is the schedule for entertainment throughout the day:
9:00 Opening Ceremony
Welcome – Greg Jackson, Chamber of Commerce President
Invocation – Rev. Advial McKenzie, Shiloh Baptist Church
Presentation of Colors – JROTC
National Anthem – Anna Grace Culbreth
Recognition of Sponsors – Rhonda Kelly
9:00 Kristi Harris
9:15 Cameron Roberts
9:30 Dustin Pounders
10:30 Barnette Praise Band
11:00 Gary Thorne
11:45 The Mannings
12:30 Brighter Day Bluegrass Group
1:30 Brooks Wood
2:15 EPG Youth
2:30 One Truth
3:15 Daniel Houze & Houze Party
4:00 Closing
The Clarke County Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all of the following sponsors for assisting with making this event possible:
Gold Sponsors
1st Mississippi Federal Credit Union
Bank Plus
Economic Development District
Mississippi Power
Quitman Building Supply
Silver Sponsors
Great Southern Bank
Outreach Health Services
H.C. Watkins Hospital
Sun South – Meridian
Bronze Sponsors
Citizens National Bank
Purvis Business Machines
Contributing Sponsors
Clarke County Tribune
Terral Insurance
Coca Cola Company
WTOK - TV
Come out and enjoy this great event and support the Clarke County Chamber of Commerce in one of their largest fundraising events of the year!
