Columbus holds annual festival

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Charles Dickens
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Free and open to the public, the city of Columbus is celebrating its 17th annual Market Street Festival in downtown Columbus May 4 and 5.

The Market Street Festival is one of the largest special events held in Mississippi and the largest held in Columbus. The festival flows through 12 city blocks and across the Riverwalk.

"It's definitely a family-friendly event with something for everyone whether it be children's activities during the day to night-time concerts," said Amber Breslin, director of Main Street Columbus.

The festivities for Friday include a concert performance by rock band Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real from 7:30 to 9 p.m. followed by funk and soul band Mingo Fishtrap from 9:30 to 11 p.m. Tickets for the performance can be bought at the gate for $10 or in advance at the Main Street Columbus office.

The events on Saturday begin with a 5k run at 8 a.m. on the Riverwalk. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the festival hosts hundreds of vendors of food, arts and crafts and holds multiple events, activities and musical performances.

"The Market Street Festival is a quality event and has been named a top 20 event of the Southeast for the past 13 consecutive years," said Breslin. "We encourage everyone to attend."

The Market Street Festival will host a 5K run as well as the Possum Town Show and Shine car and motorcycle show, multiple children's inflatables, petting zoo and pony rides, a video game trailer with four televisions and stadium seating and many more activities.

A free festival as large as the Market Street Festival relies on volunteers to thrive and be successful.

"Columbus Air Force Base plays a crucial role in our volunteer staff at the festival as well as participants in the festival," said Breslin.

Columbus Air Force Base will occupy eight demonstration booths to spread safety advice and tips about motorcycle riding and other recreational activities for the upcoming warm seasons.

"If this event is something that people from Columbus Air Force Base have never experienced before, we encourage them to come out and see it all and see what downtown Columbus has to offer," said Breslin.

For any questions or more information please visit http://www.marketstreetfestival.com/