One of the wonderful things about the South is that we love to celebrate. There are festivals celebrating local agriculture, local music, local art, movies, our history. Each area has it's own special celebrations honoring what makes it special!
This weekend I attended the Peter Anderson Festival in Ocean Springs, MS. The festival honors the memory of Peter Anderson, a potter from the area who supported many local cultural programs while he was alive. Over the last few years the festival has evolved from a small local art show to one that takes up an entire weekend with over 400 artisans from all over the country.
There was an amazing selection of art available, everything from pottery to posters to pretty jewelry. In addition to the wide array of shopping available from booths, all of the stores in downtown Ocean Springs were open and ready for business with special deals celebrating Peter Anderson.
This year the festival organizers did something a little different and created a 'food court' in one area of downtown to showcase local food vendors. Restaurants along the festival route also had tents set up on the side of the road showcasing their specialities. Blue Moon was one of the sponsors for the festival and there were Blue Moon booths set up around the route selling beer and other drinks for shoppers.
One of my favorite booths, a new vendor to Peter Anderson, was Catherine Herrington. She is a graphic designer who uses mixed media in several of her pieces. I loved her use of Southern phrases in her work and picked up a few things to decorate the apartment!
So, we've got good food, great art, and amazing weather. What are we missing? Music! Local bands and singers were set up around the parade route to keep the mood light. It was an amazing weekend spend with good friends and family! If you aren't sure what sort of local celebrations are going on in your area keep an eye on your local newspaper. If anyone is going to spotlight local events they are. A more tech savvy option would be to check out The Southern Living Event Calendar, they also have links to other more local magazines. Get out there and support your local entertainment, local vendors, and celebrate what makes your city special!
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