Downtown Meridian to host festival

By By Penny Randall / staff writer
October 8, 2004
Downtown Meridian is the place to be on Saturday if you want to enjoy live entertainment, fine art and antique cars.
Several events will be taking place in and around Front Street and Dumont Plaza beginning at 9 a.m. with the opening of the 2nd Annual Threefoot Art Festival.
Antique car owners can sign-up for the cruise at 9 a.m. Saturday. Judging will begin at 10 a.m. on Front Street. Cars will cruise the streets beginning at 11 a.m. Trophies will be awarded in several categories.
Cars need to line up on the west side of Front Street, in front of Wrangler Furniture. They will head north on 22nd Avenue, right on Fifth Street and proceed to Highway 39, left on North Hills Street, left on 10th Avenue, right on 14th Street, left on 23rd Avenue, and back to Front Street.
The Meridian Downtown Association also will host a treasure hunt. Treasure hunt rules and information can be picked up at a booth at BankPlus.
Many downtown merchants have donated gifts to be included in the treasure chest, including First Ladies Designer Hats, Linda's Fine Jewelry, June's Specialty, Meridian Underground, The Bible Bookstore, Wrangler Furniture, Cartmell Gallery, Loeb's, The Liberty Shop, Ellen's Antiques, Around the Corner, Quick Prints, The Lamp Post, Harry Mayer, Haley's Attic, Aimee's Hand-painted Linens, and The Deli on 5th.
About 35 artists will display one-of-a-kind artwork at Dumont Plaza and along Fourth and Fifth streets throughout the day including jewelry, photography, sculpture and pottery.
Food and drink vendors will sell items such as barbecue cooked by the Lauderdale County Volunteer Fire Departments, hot dogs and nachos cooked by Snow Biz and chicken-on-a-stick cooked by St. James AME Church.
Returning this year is a wine and food tasting called "Cork and Fork" from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. The tasting will be set up underneath tents in the BankPlus parking lot. Weidmann's and Chef Willie McGehee will be providing the food and wine. The tasting includes a complete meal, three white wines and three red wines.
What: Threefoot Art Festival, sponsored by BankPlus and the Meridian Council for the Arts
When: Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
10 a.m. Exhibits open, Upbeat! performs
11 a.m.-noon "Cruisin' the Queen" antique car show
11:30 a.m. Dedication of a clock to be placed at Dumont Plaza by the Queen City Timekeepers
Noon-1 p.m. Music by Steve Watson
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Music by Cabana
2:30 p.m. Awards ceremony
3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Music by Deborah Allen
4:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Music by The Queen City Gypsies
5 p.m.-7 p.m. Music by Greg Cartmell and the Blues Messengers; and "Cork and Fork," a wine and food tasting, in the BankPlus parking lot.
Where: Dumont Plaza, Fourth and Fifth streets in downtown Meridian.
Admission: Free, except for "Cork and Fork," which is $65 in advance and $75 at the door. Tickets are available at BankPlus, Cartmell Gallery and City Hall.
Information: Call 485-1122 or 485-1944. To sign-up for the antique car show, call Michele Pearson at 482-6699. Registration fee: $20.