41ST ANNUAL OCTOBERFEST TO FEATURE A FULL WEEKEND OF ACTIVITIES
The 41st Annual Octoberfest in Downtown Cleveland is scheduled for October 13 - 14 and will feature a full gamut of activities.
The weekend will kick off on Friday with the Mississippi Delta State Barbecue Championship competition. This event is sanctioned by the Memphis Barbecue Network and is the final competition of the Delta BBQ Battle circuit, which awards approximately $13,000 to winners at Octoberfest. Applications for patio and professional teams are available at octoberfestms.com.
A couple of exciting new additions to the festival this year include BBQ demonstrations and a tour of champions. Malcom Reed with HowToBBQRight and Killer Hogs BBQ Products will be offering ticketed BBQ Demonstrations at Delta Arts Alliance on Friday evening. Wicker’s Tour of Champions, sponsored by Jeff Jones, will also be offered on Friday evening and will allow registered participants to tour the championship BBQ row as well as sample and judge the offerings. Tickets for both demonstrations and the tour of champions are on sale at octoberfestms.com.
There will also be live entertainment provided by singer/songwriter/guitarist “Mississippi Marshall” Hopper from 6 - 8 pm at the Delta Arts Alliance pavilion.
Saturday morning kicks off at 8:30 am with a Kid’s Confetti Run sponsored by Junior Auxiliary of Cleveland. There will be a crafts area at Delta Arts Alliance following the Confetti Run. Children of all ages are welcome to participate.
Entertainment will begin at 9:30 am with community performances from dance troupes and gymnastics teams followed by OcTUBAfest, a brass ensemble from Delta State University’s music department that will perform a selection of tuba and horn polka pieces.
At 12 pm, there will be a partial eclipse viewing at the Wiley Planetarium tent. Eclipse glasses will be available for a donation of $1, and arts and crafts activities will be offered at no charge. This annular eclipse is the second of three notable solar eclipses viewable from the USA, and it will appear as if the sun is forming a ‘ring of fire’ around the moon.
Live music will begin at noon featuring Gospel singer Alicia Perry, Deep Roots artist Variety, Thomas “Little Killer” Sanders and Joe Garcia. Announcement of the BBQ competition winners will take place between 5 and 6 pm followed by the festival headliner, Billy Allen and the Pollies who will take the stage around 6:30 pm.
Concessions sales and food vendors will be available both Friday and Saturday. Arts and crafts vendor sales will take place Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. Over 100 arts and crafts vendors will be on display in Downtown Cleveland. A children’s area will also be available Saturday.
This widely-popular downtown event would not be possible without the help of sponsors, volunteers and a dedicated planning committee.
“We are thankful for our event sponsors who are also active members of the Chamber of Commerce,” said Robert Maxwell, President of the Chamber of Commerce. “We also greatly appreciate the help of our volunteers and Octoberfest planning committee.”
Octoberfest merchandise and BBQ products will be available for sale at the festival. Octoberfest t-shirts are already available for purchase at octoberfestms.com, and additional merchandise is coming soon!
For more information on the event, visit octoberfestms.com or contact the Chamber of Commerce at 662-843-2712.
Octoberfest provides crowd pleasing entertainment lineup
Deltans, Mississippians and visitors from all around will gather in Downtown Cleveland for the 41st annual Octoberfest on October 13 - 14. The entertainment schedule will offer a variety of artists, entertainers and community groups.
On Friday, the sanctioned Mississippi Delta State BBQ Championship will begin the weekend with the ceremonial Lighting of the Grill by BBQ extraordinaire Malcom Reed at 5 pm on Court Street near Delta Arts Alliance.
At 6 pm, singer/songwriter/guitarist “Mississippi Marshall” Hopper will perform. Marshall began playing country with his family band at a very young age and has continued on to blend country, blues and rock and roll into a genre of his own.
According to Marshall, “Blues is a feeling, and when it’s good and emotional, it can give you chill bumps. It’s that feeling in your soul and on the surface of your skin. That’s the blues you feel on ya. That’s why I invite folks to ‘come get some on ya’!”
BBQ ribs cooking demonstrations led by Malcom Reed of HowToBBQRight.com are being offered at 6 and 7 pm at Delta Arts Alliance on Friday. Attendees will learn the secrets of "BBQ'ing Right" and enjoy some world-famous BBQ to boot! Tickets are available for $25 at octoberfestms.com, and all proceeds from ticket sales benefit Junior Auxiliary of Cleveland.
On Saturday, the morning kicks off at 8:30 am with a Confetti Run for children of all ages sponsored by Junior Auxiliary of Cleveland. Participant line up will take place in the parking lot across from the First United Methodist Church at 318 S Court Street.
Leslie’s Dance Company will perform at 9:30 am followed by Blaze Elite Gymnastics. Both of these groups will showcase their hard work in the studio and on the mat.
OcTUBAfest will perform at 10:30 am bringing a unique musical flair to the event. This brass ensemble from Delta State University’s music department will play a selection of tuba and horn polka pieces.
At noon, gospel singer Alicia Perry will take the stage, showcasing her rich vocals and strong use of harmony with Christian lyrics.
The band Variety will take the stage at 1:15 pm. Variety is the popular ‘old school’ R&B/soul sibling duo featuring Eric Edwards and Shara White. These Cleveland natives have been performing across the country for more than 25 years. Their music is upbeat, lively and fun, and according to Edwards, makes audiences want to “eat barbeque and drink cold beer.”
Thomas “Little Killer” Sanders will perform at 2:30 pm. Sanders is a piano player extraordinaire and self-proclaims boogie-woogie, rock n’ roll and classic country as his specialties. He brings the energy and style of Jerry Lee Lewis to the stage.
Rosedale native Joe Garcia will begin playing at 3:45 pm. Garcia is a long-time performer at Octoberfest. His musical talent provides fun for the whole family!
Around 5 pm, the winners of the Mississippi Delta State BBQ Championship will be announced followed by the special artist of the evening, Billy Allen and the Pollies.
Billy Allen is the electric frontman entertainer and is fearlessly rooted in rock and pop. A native of Town Creek, Ala., Allen describes his music as “something you want, something you didn’t know you needed.”
Online reviews say, “Billy Allen will be a star. I don’t know how Allen is not already a household name. Allen interprets the Delta Spirit song, not just covers it, making it more than the original version.”
Jay Bergess is the lead singer/guitarist of The Pollies. Spencer Duncan plays the bass with Jon Davis on the drums and Clint Chandler on the piano. Glide Magazine described The Pollies as lingering.
"The Pollies succeed in bringing their own Southern sensibility to a sound that is grandiose and enchanting in a way that bleeds originality. Their sound is not just catchy, but it also lingers with you in the way any great band should," Glide Magazine.
41st Annual Octoberfest to feature ‘Eclipse Central’ during Partial Solar Eclipse
The excitement is building as the 41st Annual Octoberfest in Downtown Cleveland is set to take place on October 13 - 14. This tradition promises a weekend filled with a diversity of activities and entertainment, making it the best festival of the fall.
The city of Cleveland is in for a celestial treat as it plays host to a captivating partial solar eclipse. Partial solar eclipses, a phenomenon where the Moon momentarily obscures a portion of the Sun, will grace our skies.
The enchanting spectacle is scheduled to begin at 10:30 AM and conclude at 1:30 PM, with the highlight of the event being the Moon's coverage of the Sun, peaking at an impressive over 60% coverage, precisely at 12:01 PM.
Join us for this extraordinary event at 'Eclipse Central' during Octoberfest from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Esteemed solar physicist, Dr. Maria Weber, along with our friends from Delta State University’s Wiley Planetarium will be on site. This event promises an exhilarating experience, offering insights into the science of eclipses, safe eclipse-viewing techniques, and a chance to explore your artistic side with solar-themed art activities.
Eclipse glasses will be available for a donation of $1 to enhance your eclipse-viewing experience, ensuring safety and enjoyment for all attendees.
In addition, Octoberfest attendees can look forward to an impressive lineup of attractions, including live entertainment, a confetti run for the kids, concessions and a vibrant arts and crafts market.
For those looking to take a piece of Octoberfest home, festival merchandise and BBQ products will be available for purchase. The highly sought-after Octoberfest t-shirts and hats can already be found at octoberfestms.com.
Don't miss out on this extraordinary community celebration! Join us at the 41st Annual Octoberfest in Downtown Cleveland and be a part of the fun, food, and family-friendly festivities.
Exciting Additions to the 41st Annual Octoberfest Event Schedule in Downtown Cleveland
The 41st Annual Octoberfest in Downtown Cleveland, Miss. is proud to announce two exciting additions to its event schedule that are set to delight barbecue aficionados and festival-goers alike.
BBQ Ribs Demonstrations by Malcom Reed and Killer Hogs BBQ Products
Renowned barbecue expert Malcom Reed, creator and owner of Killer Hogs BBQ Products, will be offering exclusive BBQ Ribs Demonstrations at the Delta Arts Alliance on Friday, October 13. The event features two interactive sessions, with the first session beginning at 6 pm and the second at 7 pm. Refreshments will be provided to all attendees. Tickets are available for $25 per person and can be purchased at Octoberfest's official website. Space is limited.
Wicker's Tour of Champions: Experience the BBQ Circuit as a Judge
For those who aspire to be part of the BBQ competition excitement, the Wicker's Tour of Champions offers a unique opportunity to embark on a mouthwatering journey where the enchanting aroma of seasoned smokers beckons, captivating stories of barbecue artistry come to life, and every delectable bite of championship BBQ is a revelation. Join us to savor the flavors, and become the ultimate connoisseur in choosing the victorious masterpiece. Due to limited availability, we recommend securing your spot as soon as possible. Tickets for this exclusive experience are priced at $50 per person and can be acquired at Octoberfest's official website.
These two additions will provide unforgettable experiences that you won't want to miss. Join us at the 41st Annual Octoberfest in Downtown Cleveland, where the love of barbecue meets the thrill of competition.
For more information about the 41st Annual Octoberfest and its event schedule, please visit www.octoberfestms.com.
