WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Red beans and rice festival draws hundreds

Red beans and rice festival draws hundreds

By Julie Straw - bio | email

PEARL, MS (WLBT) - Trustmark Park was filled Saturday with people hungry for red beans and rice and good entertainment.  hundreds came out to support the 18th annual Red Beans and Rice Festival including a talented musician from Los Angeles, California.

"Raiders of the Lost Beans" is this year's theme for the Red Beans and Rice Festival.  Both young and adult adventurers got into the search for the best pot of beans, but don't expect the cooks to give away their special recipes.

"It's the bacon and another little secret ingredient that we put in," said Kelly O'Brien at the Clear Channel booth.

"We have a lot of secrets about it so I'm not going to talk about it too much," said Chuck Culpepper at the St. Alexis Episcopal Church booth.  "We think we got the best beans in town."

The judges will determine that.  WLBT's own Howard Ballou is up to the tough task of judging 30 different booths.

"It's great.  There's a good variety, a lot of good recipes.  The thing about it is you have to pace yourself, you really got to pace yourself," said Ballou.

Between red beans and rice breaks, the crowd took in the smooth sounds of Kat Parsons.  The Los Angeles musician was asked to perform after local Air National Guardsman Martin Moody caught her show in Alaska.

"We contacted her though her website and she was more than happy to do it.  She paid her own way to come," said Moody.

"I think it is really neat that I get to be here and I get to be part of such a nice community project that everyone is involved in helping and being part of the community.  I think it is really wonderful and they have great energy about it," said Parsons.

All the money raised goes to help Jackson's homeless through Stewpot Community Services.  "The economy is so rough right now so every little bit helps.  They spread it out.   They don't just feed people, they minister to their needs and their souls," said Theresa Moody, the chairman of the Red Beans and Rice Festival.

Last year the red beans and rice festival raised nearly $75,000 for Stewpot Community Services.  Event organizers expect to exceed that number this year.