LELAND — There’s only a week left for folks to hop on over to Leland for a day of live music and family fun at the Frog Fest and Highway 61 Blues Festival.
In lieu of this year’s canceled Mighty Mississippi Music Festival, the 20th annual Highway 61 Blues Festival is returning to its home base of Leland.
Leland Blues Project Director and Highway 61 Blues Museum curator Billy Johnson said with this being the 20th year of the Highway 61 Blues Fest, there will be a lot of reflections and memories.
“So many of the artists that were featured in the past are no longer with us,” he said.
The blues fest will coincide with the ninth annual Frog Fest, which will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with blues festival entertainment running from 11 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. Oct. 5 in the 100 block of East Third Street in downtown Leland.
Admission to the festival free, however attendees are encouraged to bring along two canned good items to be donated to the Leland Food Pantry.
There will be a wide variety of food vendors for festival goers to take advantage of as well as soft drinks, water and beer.
Festival goers are encouraged to bring chairs, no coolers and pets are not permitted.
Folks can anticipate the usual fun-filled activities such as train rides, balloon art and music for children to enjoy.
New attractions to look forward to at this year’s festival include a magic show and a kayak and canoe paddle from Stoneville to Leland sponsored by the Delta Paddlers Association and the Deer Creek Water Association.
The kayak and canoe paddle is being held in an effort to promote paddle sports on Deer Creek with the eventual goal of opening all 155 miles of Deer Creek for paddling through five counties and 13 towns.
Following the group paddle, Delta Outdoors from Cleveland will have a booth set up where people can take a test ride in various kayaks on Deer Creek.
An exciting, yet tasty, highlight of the festival, as always, is the annual Frog Fest Chili Cook-off, which has become a tradition with the chili teams cooking all morning and persuading festival-goers to vote for them for the People’s Choice Award. Five dollars will buy folks a tasting spoon and souvenir cup, which allows unlimited chili tasting and a vote for the People’s Choice award.
There will also be the Judge’s Table award, which will be completely anonymous.
The more competition the better, and to register a chili team, download the packet and application at lelandchamber.com/page/Frogfest or from the Frog Fest Facebook page.
Not to be forgotten is the Frog Fest fun run for children ages 10 and younger and a 5K race for folks of all ages, which are both free of charge and sponsored by Delta Health Alliance in an effort to promote healthy lifestyles to the community.
The 5K race is one lap around Deer Creek, walking or running, and gives participants a chance to compete for awards. The fun run will begin at 9 a.m. and the 5K will start at 9:30 a.m. with an awards presentation following
Highway 61 Blues Festival
Comprised of many soulful varieties and unique sounds, this year’s entertainment line up is one that absolutely will not disappoint.
Opening the festival and the honoree of dedication for this year’s blues festival is Leland’s own Pat Thomas, who will perform from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
From noon to 12:45 p.m. will be Bill Abel and Cadillac John Nolden; from 1:00 p.m to 1:45 p.m is Jimmy “Duck” Holmes; 2:00 p.m to 2:45 p.m is Libby Rae Watson; from 3:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m is the Zach Day Band; from 4:15 p.m to 5:15 p.m is the John Horton Band; from 5:30 p.m to 6:45 p.m is the Eden Brent Trio; from 7:00 p.m to 8:30 p.m is Super Chikan & His Fighting Cocks; the final performance of the night from 8:45 p.m to 10:15 p.m will be Lightnin’ Malcolm.
Johnson noted the festival is like a reunion for many of the artists.
“The crowd sees the show on the stage,” he said, “But to be privileged enough to see the interactions backstage and the stories that they share is something.”
The Highway 61 Blues Festival is for all to enjoy but it also serves as a reminder of the legacies that past artists have left and that the museum and festival are still here and able to thrive.
Willie Foster, Eddie Cusic, “Lil Bill” Wallace and Lil’ Milton are some of the names that Johnson said come to mind when he looks back over the last 20 years of the festival’s run.
“It means a lot for them to be honored at home,” Johnson said.
A photo exhibit displayed at the Leland Progress has been curated in honor of the beloved Delta blues musicians who are no longer here and will be available to view the day following the festival.
Johnson said working with blues artists has been a rich cultural experience for him and that God’s gift to the Mississippi Delta people is the art of expression, no matter who someone is or where they come from.
“We’re looked at as one of the most culturally creative areas of the world,” he said. “The city, county, sponsors, volunteers, fans and photographers all have contributed so much to make the event possible and are appreciated.”
The Highway 61 Blues Festival is supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and in part, from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
For more information on Frog Fest, visit their Facebook page (/Leland Frogfest_, email lelandcoc@gmail.com or visit lelandchamber.com/page/Frogfest or call 662-379-3764.
