FREE to Public Saturday, May 21, and Sunday, May 22, 2011
Click here for a taste of this year's music line up!
Click here for a taste of this year's music line up!
Growth of BridgeFest mirrors revival of community
Posted on Thu, May 19, 2011
Sun Herald
By DONNA HARRIS BAY ST. LOUIS -- In 2007, it was a ceremony to mark the reopening of the Bay Bridge, held at the Bay-Waveland Yacht Club.This weekend, attendees will see what hard work, dedication and financial support can evolve into, officials said.
“What started out as a ceremony has become the signature event of Hancock County,” said Tish Williams, Hancock County Chamber of Commerce executive director. “The entire community comes together, working for a common goal.”
The Bay BridgeFest has been billed as a “mini-Jazz Fest,” Williams said, and that couldn’t be truer this year -- the majority of acts in the three-day festival come with jazz, R&B, Cajun and zydeco credentials.
Volunteer Lee Seal was joined by Mike Rosato of Bay Rat Productions to bring in acts such as Rosie Ledet, Dread Clampitt, the Honey Island Swamp Band and the Voice of the Wetlands.
You may not recognize the artists, but Rosato promises you’ll enjoy the music.
“A lot of people don’t know the names of these bands, but those that do can’t believe they’re coming to the Gulf Coast,” he said.
The free festival is produced by the Chamber, but paid for by the generosity of its sponsors, both in the private and government sectors, Williams said.
“Much like the Peter Anderson Festival, we do ask for donations, even though we do not charge an admission fee,” she said.
Festival chairman David Holman said this year’s festival will “knock the ball out of the park.”
Saturday and Sunday events and entertainment are free, but tickets are $50 for Friday night’s patron party, “Blue Jeans, BBQ and the Blues,” 6-8 p.m. at the Bay St. Louis Community Hall.
The patron party is followed by the Juke Joint Jam, a pub crawl showcasing venues in the Depot District and Old Town.
An admission of $15 at the door of any of the featured venues gives ticket holders access to all six bands: Nash Street, Tommy T-Bone Pruitt, Rochelle Harper, Sugar Lee, The Relative Unknowns and Suns of Eden.
Proceeds benefit Bay-Waveland Habitat for Humanity.
On Saturday morning, the festival starts with a 5K run\walk across the award-winning bridge that was the inspiration for the initial festival.
Then the action moves to Old Town.
A juried art village, merchandise and craft vendors, a children’s activities area and a food court are spread out around the three entertainment stages.
Parking is available downtown and at Hollywood Casino, which is offering free shuttles 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.
“We’re expecting people from around the region, so it’s a perfect opportunity to showcase the attractions of Hancock County,” Holman said.
Sun Herald
By DONNA HARRIS BAY ST. LOUIS -- In 2007, it was a ceremony to mark the reopening of the Bay Bridge, held at the Bay-Waveland Yacht Club.This weekend, attendees will see what hard work, dedication and financial support can evolve into, officials said.
“What started out as a ceremony has become the signature event of Hancock County,” said Tish Williams, Hancock County Chamber of Commerce executive director. “The entire community comes together, working for a common goal.”
The Bay BridgeFest has been billed as a “mini-Jazz Fest,” Williams said, and that couldn’t be truer this year -- the majority of acts in the three-day festival come with jazz, R&B, Cajun and zydeco credentials.
Volunteer Lee Seal was joined by Mike Rosato of Bay Rat Productions to bring in acts such as Rosie Ledet, Dread Clampitt, the Honey Island Swamp Band and the Voice of the Wetlands.
You may not recognize the artists, but Rosato promises you’ll enjoy the music.
“A lot of people don’t know the names of these bands, but those that do can’t believe they’re coming to the Gulf Coast,” he said.
The free festival is produced by the Chamber, but paid for by the generosity of its sponsors, both in the private and government sectors, Williams said.
“Much like the Peter Anderson Festival, we do ask for donations, even though we do not charge an admission fee,” she said.
Festival chairman David Holman said this year’s festival will “knock the ball out of the park.”
Saturday and Sunday events and entertainment are free, but tickets are $50 for Friday night’s patron party, “Blue Jeans, BBQ and the Blues,” 6-8 p.m. at the Bay St. Louis Community Hall.
The patron party is followed by the Juke Joint Jam, a pub crawl showcasing venues in the Depot District and Old Town.
An admission of $15 at the door of any of the featured venues gives ticket holders access to all six bands: Nash Street, Tommy T-Bone Pruitt, Rochelle Harper, Sugar Lee, The Relative Unknowns and Suns of Eden.
Proceeds benefit Bay-Waveland Habitat for Humanity.
On Saturday morning, the festival starts with a 5K run\walk across the award-winning bridge that was the inspiration for the initial festival.
Then the action moves to Old Town.
A juried art village, merchandise and craft vendors, a children’s activities area and a food court are spread out around the three entertainment stages.
Parking is available downtown and at Hollywood Casino, which is offering free shuttles 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.
“We’re expecting people from around the region, so it’s a perfect opportunity to showcase the attractions of Hancock County,” Holman said.
Follow Bay Rat Productions!
Copyright 2011 Bay Rat Productions, LLC. All rights reserved.