Carnival Preparation Is ‘Team Effort’
Cemeteries and Parks Supervisor William Beard (left) and department worker Ray White edge sidewalks in City Park Monday as part of the City’s prepartions for Watermelon Carnival. – Photos by Jack Gurner
Reporter
WATER VALLEY – There’s a lot of hard work that goes into preparing for the Watermelon Carnival. And, with just a week to go, there’s still plenty to do.
Just ask City workers who edge sidewalks, cut grass, hang banners, and pick up trash. Or, talk to the Chamber of Commerce members and other volunteers who plan events and stage the Carnival.
“It’s a team effort for the whole city,” William Beard commented as he and his Cemeteries and Parks Department crew trimmed and edged in City Park Monday afternoon.
“The tough part is working in the heat,” said Beard, who usually spends at least a week on the final details.
“All our City crews have embarked on getting the town ready for carnival,” said Mayor Larry Hart.
The Mayor said that residents could help with the preparations by getting an early start on clean-up projects. “Don’t place your debris in the street, but put it at curbside,” he said.
He urged everyone to have projects completed by Wednesday, Aug. 3. “Our regular brush pick-up schedule will correspond with your garbage pick-up,” he added. “But, feel free to call City Hall at 473-2431 if you need a brush pickup.”
Just across Central Street from City Park, Renasant Bank employees are prepping for their Carnival events. The bank sponsors the street dance, hosts the Watermelon Games, and serves water and lemonade to Carnival goers.
“Renasant Bank is delighted to be across the street from the biggest event in town,” commented Bill Taylor, Community Bank President for Renasant.
He said that this year’s Friday night street dance features north Mississippi native Braden Gray. Last year Police estimated around 4000 people attended. “Bring a chair and visit,” Taylor added.
While Chamber of Commerce volunteers have a lot of events for which to prepare, one of their relatively new carnival events is the cooking contest – just in its second year. Categories will be ribs, chicken, desserts, best side, sauce, and anything watermelon, according to Tonya Eubanks of the Chamber.
The dessert category will include cakes, pies, jellies and fried pies, she said. The best side category will include any side dish, including beverages and sauces.
Your favorite barbecue sauce would come under the best sauce category. “The anything watermelon category is where anything watermelon related goes,” she said.
Applications may be picked up at the Chamber office between 9 and 3:30. For more information contact Eubanks at tonyaeubanks@att.net or 662-609-7370.
The 2011 Watermelon Carnival kicks off Thursday night, Aug. 4, with the Watermelon Music Festival at the Civic Auditorium, sponsored by the Town and Country Garden Club.
The Sharecroppers, featuring singer Joyce Gibbs, will perform beginning at 7 p.m. Gibbs is the daughter of Dr. Larry Tyler and is married to Monte Gibbs, son of Jake Gibbs.
There are a lot of other events and a lot of people working to make it all come together.
