Community Turns Out for Inaugural Ridgeland Pecan Festival
RIDGELAND, MS — The City of Ridgeland hosted its inaugural Pecan Festival at Freedom Ridge Park on Saturday, October 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Close to 2,000 residents and visitors came together to enjoy a day filled with craftsmen booths, live artist demonstrations, food trucks, a farmers market, a pecan dessert showcase, live music, children’s activities, and information booths—offering something for everyone to enjoy. Organizers say this marks the beginning of a new Ridgeland tradition.
“Coming off of the momentum of the 125th Anniversary year in 2024—when the pecan was officially named Ridgeland’s City tree and a historical marker honoring its agricultural roots was placed at Freedom Ridge Park—I wanted to design a festival that honored Ridgeland’s history while providing old-fashioned family fun in the park for the community,” said Festival Chair Kim Cooper. “Thank you to the Pecan Festival Planning Committee, the Recreation and Parks team, Mayor and Board of Aldermen, the Historical Society of Ridgeland, for helping to ‘Tell Ridgeland’s Story,’ our many vendors, musical lineup, and so many others who helped to make it a day to remember.”
With strong community support and positive feedback from attendees, Mayor Gene McGee noted that the event “captured the heart of Ridgeland — a community that values its history, people, and future. The turnout was outstanding, and the weather couldn’t have been better for the first-year event.”
The City extends a warm thank you to all of the vendors, musicians, the Historical Society of Ridgeland, Keep Ridgeland Beautiful, Explore Ridgeland, the Ridgeland Public Library, Green Oak, Imaginary Company, Mars Marketing, Vertigo Sound, Mississippi Tent & Party Rental, Gotta Go, Mad Genius, and the many volunteers, including members of the Mayor’s Youth Council, who made the festival possible. The City also expresses special appreciation to Explore Ridgeland for helping to sponsor event activities and WLBT, Freshway Produce, and Martinson’s Garden Works for in-kind sponsorship and pumpkin donations.
Live Music: Soundwagon, Bridgette Ferguson & Tim Avalon, D’lo Trio, and The Accumulators
Artists Tents & Demonstrations: Woodstock, In Stitches, The Wood Shop, Moss Pottery, Pressed Flower Art, Kit White Printmaker, Nick Neese Glass, Everlasting Petal Co., Creative Crafts, The Rising Phoenix Candle Co., Sweet Magnolia Creations, Nerdy Laundry, Rose Ellen Lindsey, SAKs, Grace Outdoor Furniture, Nadabutter, Throwing Hands Pottery, and Todd Carr Designs
Live Craft Demonstrations: Brian Hill (Woodturning), Nic Neese (Glass Blowing)
Farmer’s Market: Martinson’s Garden Works, Cedar Hill Gardens, Sparrow Gardens, Twelve2 Farm, Hooey Honey, Cypress Point Pecans, and Magnolia Pecan Delights
Pecan Dessert Showcase: Amerigo Ridgeland, Fresh Market, Bo’s Bake Shop, Your Personal Chef, and a special pecan pie made by Mayor McGee
Food & Drink Pavilion: Barbeque SHINE, One Guy Steak and Chicken, C&C Cotton Candy, Flying Dolly’s Sno Cones, Bee Bee’s Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, and Loren’s Colombian Kitchen
Information Booths: Ridgeland Historical Society, Keep Ridgeland Beautiful, Explore Ridgeland, Ridgeland Garden Club, and Ridgeland Public Library
For more information about upcoming events in the City of Ridgeland, visit www.ridgelandms.org or follow the City of Ridgeland on social media.
Ridgeland Pecan Festival Planning Committee:
Kim Cooper (Chair), Jane McGee, John Sidney North, Nancy Batson, Lisa Walters, Ben McDonald, Carly Brandon, Jan Richardson, Betsy Ross, Karen McKie, Jim Woodrick, Matt Dodd, Matthew Magee, Dr. Catherine Sledge, Amelia Dalton, Crystal Pham, and Krystal Watson
