Although inclement weather on December 2 forced the postponement of this year’s Olde Town Christmas Festival in Sumrall, town officials have rescheduled that event to a later date.
The Sumrall Development Foundation, which hosts the festival, recently announced the day’s festivities will take place from 10 a.m.-4p.m. December 9 on the streets of Sumrall.
“This is mainly to give folks the opportunity to come find out what we love about our community,” Mayor Joel Lofton said. “We’ve got a great little community here, and people move here for what we have – the way people treat one another and look out for one another.
“The Christmas festival, apart from celebrating the real reason of the season, is a way that folks can come here and see the heart of our community, and what people love about being here. It’s all about family and enjoying life.”
The festival will offer several family activities, including local vendors, entertainment and food throughout the streets of downtown Sumrall. In addition, the annual Christmas parade will roll through downtown starting at 2 p.m. the day of the festival.
And although the weather put a damper on the festival itself, the activities preceding the event on December 1 went on as planned, including a live nativity scene at Beam Park, the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree and the Olde Towne Business Open House in downtown.
“It’s just the spirit of our town that (we’re) just so close to each other, and kind of have family-oriented community events, and Christmas is such a special season,” Lofton said in a previous story. “The Sumrall Development Foundation started this some time back, and of course the town supports Sumrall Development the same way we do Sumrall Main Street and other community-minded organizations.
“So it’s really their event, but we contribute to make sure that everyone is safe and taken care of (those days); that’s how the town really supports it. We always have a nice crowd.”
Vendor applications can be picked up at Sumrall Town Hall, 4880 Mississippi Highway 589 in Sumrall.
In addition to the Olde Towne Festival events, the Sumrall Community Theater will present Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas: The Musical,” directed by Sam Buchanan, with several show times at 4887 Mississippi 589 in Sumrall.
Show times are as follows:
- 7 p.m. December 7;
- 7 p.m. December 8;
- 7 p.m. December 9; and
- 2 p.m. December 10.
The plot of the story follows World War II veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis and their song-and-dance act. The original “White Christmas” film was released in 1954 and predominantly features Berlin’s song, along with several other of his works.
It stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.
For ticket information, call (601) 402-4216 or visit www.sumrall-community-theater.com.
