Bay BridgeFest Goes Down at New Harbor in Bay St. Louis
The Bay St. Louis Bay BridgeFest started Friday and went late into the night. Festivities will continue Saturday with Hancock County’s first triathlon, the headlining band, North Mississippi All Stars, and much more.
The event has a new home, the Jody Compretta Municipal Harbor, and is a testament to how far the city has come from almost total devastation. Lee Seal, Director of Bay BridgeFest, says, "We’ve definitely more than turned the corner since Katrina and we have this beautiful facility. The beach is done, the seawall is done, and it’s just a celebration of our recovery."
The Bay BridgeFest kicked off Friday evening with a 5k run, followed by hours of live music, craft booths, food, and plenty of adult beverages to be enjoyed responsibly. News 25 caught up with one of the runners to see how it felt after the race. Dr. David Tuminello, one of the runners, says, "Hot, so a little sub-par, but it’s ok. It was hot. I enjoyed it though. That’s what I like, to burn calories, so now I can go drink some calories."
Friday evening’s 5k may have kicked off this weekend’s festivities, but it’s definitely not the only reason to enjoy this year’s Bay BridgeFest. Seal also says, "We have Rochelle Harper band tonight, we’ll have Flathead Ford from Starkville/Golden Triangle area. Tomorrow, we will have Joe Crown Trio, with Walter "Wolfman" Washington and Russell Batiste, and the headline tomorrow is the North Mississippi All Stars."
With the new venue this year, many residents feel this will be the best BridgeFest yet. Dr. Tuminello closes, "It localizes the crowd down there, keeps everyone together, and what a beautiful sight right here with the boats and the bridge and everything in the background. I think it’s going to be better."
Admission was free Friday night, but will be $12 on Saturday for adults and kids over 12.
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