Just in time for cooler weather, the Petal Area Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its 2023 fall edition of the Downtown FAM Jam, a family-friendly, community-oriented event designed for fun and camaraderie in the Friendly City.
The event will be held from 5-8 p.m. October 21 at 128 South Main Street in the area in front of Grand Central Outfitters and Panther Credit. The event is free and open to the public.
“We always hear from people that what they want is more activities that are family-oriented, here in Petal, so they don’t need to leave the area,” said Valerie Wilson, executive director of the Petal Area Chamber of Commerce. “Also, (they want) free activities, so they don’t have to spend a lot of their income dollars on entertainment.”
This version of FAM Jam – which is short for Food, Art and Music – will be slightly different than previous ones, as it will focus more on music and food vendors, rather than the arts and crafts booths offered in the past.
“Most importantly, we’re concentrating on the music,” Wilson said. “We will have food vendors, but we really want people to stay, and to bring their lawn chairs and to plan on listening to the music.
“It’ll just be food, music and beverages available.”
To that end, live music will be provided by two bands: the Twin Forks String Band and the Pine Belt Rattlers.
“We fully hope that people will stay and enjoy both groups, and enjoy just being outside in the fall weather,” Wilson said.
The event is sponsored by the Forrest County Board of Supervisors, in particular District 3 Supervisor Burkett Ross.
“We want to thank Burkett Ross for sponsoring this event,” Wilson said.
The upcoming fall FAM Jam is the second on held this year, as the spring/early summer FAM Jam was held in May.
“(The turnout) was great in May,” Wilson said. “We hope that there will be a good turnout this time; we deliberately chose a weekend where USM didn’t have a home game, so we hope that it will be a good turnout.
“Hopefully the weather will cooperate with us, and it’ll be nice weather.”
To ensure safety, Main Street will be closed between Regions Bank and Panther Credit during the event. Shoppers will still be able to visit any businesses that are regularly open along that thoroughfare.
“That’ll keep it more like a street party,” Wilson said.
