SCENE: Mississippi Day In The Park (6/13)

Mississippi Day in The Park: 2009 marks the 30th anniversary of the New York Mississippi Picnic. The theme for the 2009 picnic is “Celebrate Mississippi,” and it will highlight some of the best of what Mississippi has to offer: artists, authors, musicians and chefs.

"The New York Mississippi Picnic was started in 1979 as the brainchild of a handful of native Mississippians living in New York City. The group joined together to create an event to highlight Mississippi’s attributes and help change the perceptions others had about the state as well as New York City. The first picnic attracted some 500 individuals, and that number has steadily increased over the years; the 2009 picnic is expected to attract more than 2,000 picnic-goers! In addition to the picnic, the hard work of this group of individuals resulted in the creation of the New York Society for the Preservation of Mississippi Heritage. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, the state’s lead economic development ambassador, will be joining this year’s festivities. In fact, every Mississippi governor since the picnic’s inception has attended this exciting event!"

Central Park’s East Meadow
97th Street and Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10128
Time: Noon to 6:00 PM

Food Specials:

$10.00 Lunch Plates includes Mississippi farm-raised, southern-fried catfish and hushpuppies from Simmons Catfish in Yazoo City.

Drink Specials: $1.00 of McAlister’s Deli ice cold sweet tea.

Music: Many of the state’s talented musicians will be providing live entertainment.

The event is free but donations are accepted and appreciated to benefit the New York Society for the Preservation of Mississippi Heritage.

For more information, contact Rachel McPherson at (718) 788-2988 or email nymspicnic@yahoo.com.

Rain Out:

Arsenal Gallery
830 Fifth Avenue
At 64th Street & Fifth Avenue inside Central Park
New York, NY 10065
Telephone: Dial 311 Parks & Recreation for information, outside NYC call (212) New York
Web Site: www.nyc.govparks.org