By Rita Howell
The weekend that local folks look forward to all year long is finally here. Batesville SpringFest opens this afternoon at 5 on the Batesville Downtown Square.
A food court full of delectable offerings, a Kids Area packed with free activities, a carnival jammed with rides and fun, and a stage crammed with musical entertainment…all that and more awaits festival-goers.
A full schedule of SpringFest events is included inside a special section in today’s Panolian, but here are a few highlights:
Cornhole Classic
The Young Professional of Panola will present their first-ever Mississippi Cornhole Classic, a team competition where participants test their skills in an old-fashioned beanbag toss game that has gained popularity at tailgates and parties. The court opens Friday at 6 for open play and longest toss contest. The Cornhole Classic will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday for registered teams.
Racing for Paws
The Panola County Humane Society has joined in to sponsor their Racing for Paws 5K Saturday morning at 8. Participants can pick up their race packets from 4:30-7:30 p.m. today at Batesville First United Methodist Church, and on Saturday morning beginning at 6:30 a.m.
JA Kids Area
The Junior Auxiliary of Batesville has expanded their annual Kids Area to include an obstacle course made of inflatables, an 18-wheeler full of game consoles to entertain kids, inflatable soccer balls, story-telling by costumed characters, face-painting, a bungee jumper and a rock climbing wall. Everything is free for kids of all ages. The kids zone encompasses the entire southwest quadrant of the square.
Pageant winners
The winners of the Miss SpringFest Pageant will be presented Friday night at 8:15 p.m. on the main stage, in between performances by the Honky Tonk Heroes (7 p.m.) and the Oxford All-Stars (8:30 p.m.)
Saturday morning entertainment
A full morning of entertainment by local groups is planned from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Performers will include the Como Elementary Choir, South Panola High School Choirs, the Polynesian Association of Mississippi dancers, Pope School Choir, and the cast of Panola Playhouse’s current musical production, “A Catered Affair.”
Musical lineup
Seven groups from multiple genres will perform all afternoon and into the evening. SpringFest performers are: Austin Smith and Company, Whiskey Barrels, Aviators, Jason Miller Band, Teardrip City, Kevin Sekhani and headliner Craig Morgan.
Traffic alerts
To accommodate the expanded Kids Area and other changes in the SpringFest layout, through traffic in the Square will be  blocked Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vehicles will be allowed to enter on Eureka, cross the railroad and turn left onto Thomas. On Panola Avenue, traffic will be stopped on Saturday at Lester Street.
Starting at 8 a.m. Friday and continuing through Saturday night, traffic will be blocked at the Broadway and Boothe Street entrances to the Square, and the College Street entrance. See the map in Section C of today’s Panolian.
Do’s and don’ts
Admission is free, of course, but festival sponsors ask that you leave coolers at home and purchase beverages from participating vendors. Also leave at home pop-up tents, pets (except for service animals), skateboards and bikes. Anyone making a purchase at the beer garden must present a valid picture ID .
Free parking is available off Van Voris Street behind the Square.