THIS YEAR'S EVENT

The New York Mississippi Picnic in Central Park’s East Meadow will feature Mississippi Blues, fried catfish, homemade desserts and a chance to connect with home for the more than 2,000 expected to attend. The picnic is held on Saturday, June 7th, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 5th Avenue and 97th Street.

The New York/Mississippi picnic began in 1979 when a small handful of native Mississippians living in New York City worked together to create an event that would highlight their state in a positive way. The result was the annual picnic that brings thousands of Mississippians together every year in New York’s Central Park and the creation of the New York Society for the Preservation of Mississippi Heritage. Governor Haley Barbour will attend the event, along with staff members of the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA). This event has proved to be a great tool for Mississippi officials to network with national business leaders. MDA uses the event to promote doing business in the state, increase tourism efforts and recruit potential retirees to Mississippi. With New York being recognized as the media capital of the world, the picnic affords the Mississippi delegation an opportunity to visit with a number of both print and broadcast journalist during sales call prior to the actual event. Also, with Governor Barbour as the lead economic developer for Mississippi, the visit affords him the opportunity to meet with CEOs of Americas’ leading business organizations. “The picnic is a great opportunity to showcase our state and spread Mississippi’s culture and hospitality to the people of New York,” says Gray Swoope Executive Director of MDA.Every governor since 1979 has attended the event. Economic developers and tourism officials from Jackson, the Gulf Coast, Hattiesburg, Oxford, Vicksburg and other cities around Mississippi will also be represented at the event.

Each year, Simmons Farm Raised Catfish in Yazoo City will provides 360 pounds of catfish and 80 pounds of hushpuppies for the picnic. “This is our fourth year to donate catfish to the picnic,” says Harry Simmons, President. “We try to provide the freshest fish possible for the Mississippi Catfish Cooking Team to prepare in New York. This is a good marketing opportunity for us. We want people across the country to appreciate Mississippi farm-raised catfish.”

Rachel McPherson, one of the original founders of the picnic, says the event offers an opportunity for mutual cultural education for both New Yorkers and Mississippians. “This is an event that can guarantee good publicity for Mississippi, promote tourism and retirement destinations to the state and educate the public about specific regions of the state,” she said. “Word of the event’s success has spread, and now other southern states such as Arkansas and Alabama are trying to do similar events in the New York area.”

In addition, Mississippi universities and alumni associations have helped coordinate alumni gatherings and used the event as a recruiting tool in the northeast. The event also helps college friends stay in touch and gives colleges fundraising opportunities while in the Big Apple. For more information about the specifics of this year’s picnic contact, Rachel McPherson at 718.788.2988 or e-mail: NYMSPicnic@yahoo.com

The New York Society is excited about plans for this year’s picnic. The 29th Annual Mississippi Picnic, Art in the Park – will be a celebration of Mississippi’s talented artists. Artwork from some of Mississippi’s finest such as Lea Barton, Nancy Branton, Linda Dahlke, Teena Grantham, Karen Jamison, Ellen Langford, Lisa Paris and Miriam Weems will be on display and for sale in the PORTICOjackson Arts Pavilion.

Karen Jamison, a Columbus-based artist, was commissioned by The New York Society to design the artwork for this year’s picnic. She will be on hand to sign the whimsical, limited-edition prints.

Bring a blanket, kick back and relax as Jon Paris and Michael Hill perform live, steamy blues music while the Mississippi Catfish Cooking Team serves up Simmons farm-raised catfish with McAlister’s Deli’s famous sweet tea.

If you have artistic abilities, be sure to bring your artwork to submit in the Amateur Art Contest! Or perhaps making a sculpture out of grits is your forte’? Check out the “How-To” on the picnic website. Other events such as a Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest, Best Dessert Contest and Best Picnic Spread Contest are sure to provide hours of fun for the entire family.

There is no admission charge to attend the 2008 Mississippi Picnic.
Donations for Catfish lunches and McAlister's Tea and soft drinks
will be taken. All proceeds will go back to The New York
Society. Lunch plates are $10 and beverages are $1.

To learn about this fun-filled Mississippi tradition, please visit www.nymspicnic.com.

We hope to see ya there!