The North Mississippi Herald has some great coverage of this years World’s Largest Crappie Festival. Check out their web page for a scad of pictures and watch the video reporter Jack Gurner shot below:

And you can read Mickey Howley’s Street Talk column, which wraps it all up below:

Street Talk By Mickey Howley

Anthropologists often glean much of their insights into a culture’s way of life by sifting through trash. If any researcher in the future comes across the pile created last Saturday by the World’s Largest Crappie Festival (it will be found in Pontotoc County), I’m sure they will speculate as to what was going on.

Of the evidence: the funnel cake debris, the snow-cone stained cups, the crumbs from kettle corn to Turkish pita bread. They will wonder and ask, “what is the significance of this fish drawing?” But, for sure, the researchers will come to the conclusion it was a fun time.

In environmentally less sensitive times (just a few years ago), the success of any street festival was measured in the volume of trash it produced. More trash meant more fun and more people enjoying the food and festivities. All the many trash cans I saw last Saturday evening were overflowing. And that means someone has to pick up the trash. That someone is the City of Water Valley Sanitation Depart-ment.

The city kicks in a lot to ensure the festival’s smooth success. The parks crew made sure the Railroad Park was neat at the start of the fest. The electric depart-ment had the stage powered up, the street department prepped before and straightened after, the fire department held down the fort while the police department put in a long day at the festival. And Mayor Larry Hart and his office made sure it all happened in a timely fashion.

Let me make a point here: putting on these festivals is an added cost to the city; many towns our size don’t even have a festival. We have two. And I think if a town is willing to put forth the effort to throw festivals based on either a fish or a melon, it says something very positive about the community as a whole. That we prize our time together as community having fun says a lot about us as a town.

These festivals are more than just about fun. There are a number of intangible benefits. Some of it is selling the town to regional visitors. David Sage, the owner of Rebel Sound who supplied the festival sound equipment, mentioned he had not been in Water Valley for “five or six years,” and he noticed the town had “really changed” (I’m guessing he meant for the better). He asked about how the real estate was here, as he had seen a place on Panola Street that looked very interesting.

Main Street HQ in Jackson always asks the WVMSA to count volunteer hours. I assure you, the “Crappie Fest” cumulative number of volunteer hours runs into the thousands. And it is only because of the volunteers that the festival is possible. They are the driving force, along with the sponsors, that make it all happen.

While the actual fest may be only seven hours long, the effort to pull it together is months long. So if you had a good time hula-hooping or listening to the music or just being proud to own a crappie t-shirt, thank a volunteer — and better even: consider joining the festival crew for next year!

This week’s street talk from the North Mississippi Herald.

by Mickey Howley

This Saturday’s forecast looks good, sunny and seventies, which is important because good weather is the key to having a great festival. And your Water Valley Main Street Association thinks we have a great festival lined up for the town. First there is the music: on the Main Street stage bands range from blues and soul, to jazz, to real country and bluegrass, to rock, to Elvis. Yes, “Elvis” is a stand-alone musical genre now. Five bands in all are performing from 10:30 am to 5 pm for your entertainment. Bring a chair or blanket and plan to enjoy the show.

There is lots of other stuff going on in the celebration of all things Crappie. Don’t miss the Crappie Weigh-in to see who catches the biggest fish. Be sure to catch the Crappie Cook-Off to find out who is the “King of Crappie” when it comes to taste. Delta Grind is supplying the local corn meal. Then there is the Crappie boat raffle! Rotary will have the ultimate get in “skinny and stumpy water” boat on display. This boat will float into the most obscure crappie holes and one buck buys you a chance to win it. Watch for the crappie green uniforms of biologists from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Parks who will be here to talk about Crappie and other fish. Conservation officers in their green uniforms will also be on hand to talk about boat safety and fishing rules for our local lakes and maybe they will tell their favorite Crappie story. They are bringing their boat, too. The guy who runs the North Mississippi Fish Hatchery, Justin Wilkens will share some information about the Magnolia Crappie. Come out and learn about tying and making artificial flys and lures. Hear a talk about pollinators – well, maybe learn what a pollinator is. Bass Pro, too, will be on Main Street with Crappie gear.

This fishing stuff is an effort to lure the fisherman in your family to come downtown for once and the other events are to reel in the rest of the family. I just had to say that.

For you non-fishing types the Yalobusha County Homemakers have quilt show at Bozarts Gallery. Imagination Station is open and has their Water Valley Main Street in 3D miniatures on display as their end of year show. You should check it out, a very detailed and a great collective piece of art.

There is plenty to do and see. Kids, get ready for this year’s hoola-hoop contest and find out who can spin the best! There will also be sack races, three legged races, dominoes, horseshoes, jumpers and bouncers, baby crawl. Main Street will have solid assortment of vendors with local cooked food from the newest pizza to fest food favorites. Plenty of local arts and crafts vendors will be there, right in time for Mother’s Day.

There‘ll be a donation box for the local Red Cross. Please put a donation in for them, they are the people, and I’m speaking from personal experience, who really help out in times of natural disasters. Those funds will directly help your fellow Mississippians.