Mark Aug. 14 on your calendar as the date for the 17th annual Bright Lights Belhaven Nights.
The street festival is back after being put on hold last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Casey Creasey, executive director of the Greater Belhaven Neighborhood Foundation, said the festival drew 3,500 people in 2019, not just from Jackson but from all across Mississippi and Louisiana.
“We’re hoping for a big turnout but with this Delta variant of coronavirus you never know,” she said.
The festival, scheduled from 5-11 p.m., will feature live music on two stages, as well as local, handmade craft vendors and food and beverages from Mississippi’s restaurants and breweries.
The ever popular Children’s Area offers something for kids of all ages and will feature special entertainer Stormin’ Bob Swanson. Bob Swanson writes and performs children’s music about weather and astronomy for school and library groups. In an effort to teach science in an innovative and interesting way, Bob combines his passions for both science and music. A self-trained musician who plays guitar, harmonica, mandolin, banjo and accordion, Bob spent a decade as a professional weatherman – 6 years on television and 4 years in print/online working as assistant weather editor at USA TODAY. As an award-winning educator (2017 MSVCC “Instructor of the Year”), Bob has taught a variety of earth and physical science courses at the high school and college level. He currently works as an instructor / lab coordinator in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Mississippi State University.
The 2021 event will also feature the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. The Wienermobile was envisioned in 1936 by Carl Mayer, nephew of the company’s founder. He came up with the idea of a 13- foot metal hot dog on wheels to transport the company spokesperson. Throughout the years, the Wienermobile has been redesigned as previous models have been retired. The specialized vehicle even has versions that were built to tour Japan and Spain. In 2008, the Mini Wienermobile was built on a BMW Mini Cooper “S” chassis and in 2011, a special edition Wienermobile Food Truck was debuted. Children will enjoy touring this iconic vehicle while parents recall the first time they saw it driving down the road.
“We’re really excited about this year’s Children’s Area,” said Casey Creasey, Executive Director of GBF. “This is such a beloved community event and the children are such an important focus with our family atmosphere. Stormin’ Bob Swanson is a fun and educational component to the evening. Bob being a self-trained musician is a bonus and falls in line with the event’s musical focus.”
In addition to Stormin’ Bob Swanson and the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, the Children’s Area will also feature The Academy of Kung Fu, the Mississippi Children’s Museum, and various activities. The Children’s Area is open from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Parents are encouraged to stay with their children while they play in this portion of the BLBN footprint.
Bright Lights Belhaven Nights has repeatedly been named a Top 20 Event in the Southeast for the month of August by the Southeast Tourism Society. The historic Belhaven neighborhood was designated as one of American Planning Association’s “Great Neighborhoods in America 2014.”
The festival will extend along Carlisle Street from Corner Market’s parking lot toward New Stage Theatre, turn onto Kenwood Place and extend into Belhaven Park. Free parking will be available along Belhaven streets that have not been closed off and in the parking garage adjacent to Baptist Health Systems Medical Arts East at the corner of North and Carlisle Streets. The entry gates will be located on Carlisle and Poplar Streets.
Advance tickets are $15 per person and are available online at www.greaterbelhaven.com/events/bright-lights-belhaven-nights-event/ or $20 at the gate (cash only). Children ages 12 and younger get in for free and must remain with a supervising adult at all times. Festival gates will open at 5 p.m.
