Under a canopy of leafy pecan trees in Freedom Ridge Park, the City of Ridgeland hosted its inaugural Pecan Festival on Saturday, October 18.
Nearly 2,000 residents and visitors enjoyed a day filled with craft booths and live artist demonstrations, including a woodturning demonstration by Brian Hill and a glassblowing demo by Nic Neese, both members of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi.
The arts and crafts tent also included Mississippi artisans displaying and selling pottery, woodworking, pressed flower art, hand-poured candles, natural laundry powder, outdoor furniture, and more.
“Coming off of the momentum of Ridgeland’s 125th Anniversary year in 2024—when the pecan was officially named Ridgeland’s City tree and a historical marker honoring its agricultural roots was placed at Freedom Ridge Park—I wanted to design a festival that honored Ridgeland’s history while providing old-fashioned family fun in the park for the community,” said Festival Chair Kim Cooper. “I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Pecan Festival Planning Committee, the Recreation and Parks team, Mayor and Board of Aldermen, and the Historical Society of Ridgeland for helping to tell Ridgeland’s story in such a unique way. I also want to thank our many vendors, musical lineup, and so many others who helped to make it a day to remember.”…