Video: Thousands Pour into Starkville for Cotton District Arts Festival

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — The annual Cotton District Arts Festival draws thousands of people to downtown Starkville each year as part of Super Bull Dog Weekend.

They poured into Starkville’s Cotton District to get a taste of their favorite festival activity.

“Ribs, nachos, drinks like the slushy machine over there,” says Allexie Williams.

Since she was in diapers, Allexie Williams has spent every year at the art’s festival. After 15 years, she looks forward to familiar places.

“I look forward to like the same kind of thing food setup in the same areas and certain places where I would like to buy necklaces and stuff,” says Williams.

Others use this festival as a way to stay in touch with old classmates.

“We’ve all played in the maroon band together and just come over quite often still communicate and keep up with one another,” says John Hasson.

As John Hasson enjoys walking down memory lane, he also looks forward to seeing new ideas on display.

“People have so many creative ideas you know that they come up with. I really enjoy it. That’s what I really enjoy about it,” says Hasson.

One vender that caught Hasson’s eye has hand made furniture made out of old wine barrels.

“We get our barrels out of Napa Valley and we’re recycling the white oak out of them. We do tables and chairs and just about anything you can imagine out of wine barrel wood,” says Curtis Shumate.

Like his organic furniture, owner Curtis Shumate comes from strong roots.

“I’m connected to Starkville because I went to school here and so I always like coming back to Starkville but the people are great,” says Shumate.

So no matter where festival goers are from, they’re all connected to the Cotton District Art Festival in some way.

In addition to the art festival, Starkville visitors are also taking advantage of several MSU games, and a pig cooking contest for Super Bulldog Weekend. Activities will wrap up Sunday.