Music lovers from around the world joined the Turner family this past weekend to celebrate the 65th Otha Turner   Picnic and Goat Roast in the Gravel Springs community near Como. Barbecue, catfish, beer and traditional fife-and-drum music have been showcased in late August in the Turner family yard for over six decades. The tradition started in the 1950’s when Othar “Otha” Turner began hosting Labor Day picnics behind his house near Como. He’d play fife-and-drum blues and set up a goat roast for family and friends. Otha’s grandchildren carry on the tradition. Shown are (from left) on drums, Otha Evans, Rodney Evans, Walter Freeman, and on fife, Sharde Thomas.
The Panolian photo by Emily Williams