Festival Links People, Nature: Year-Round Events in Works
By Leigh Coleman, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.
Jul. 29–MOSS POINT — It was a day set aside to connect people with nature on Saturday at the new Summer by the River Festival at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center in Moss Point.
The Audubon Center, Moss Point Market and the Moss Point Library joined forces to present the local festival on the river. Organizers said they have big festival plans for the future.
The tall pine forest provided cool shade at the festival, which brought together an eclectic mix of South Mississippi’s resources.
Local artists, river tours, stories about the environment, bird feeder and composting tips, and a “Slow Food Fast” cooking demonstration entertained the crowd for hours.
Chef Diane Claughton presented an innovative cooking show highlighting local foods prepared without a hassle. Slow Food organizers’ presentation was also about simply taking the time to slow down and enjoy life with family and friends.
“We partnered with the Audubon Center to hold local festivals several times a year that feature local people,” said Claughton.
“There are many people with hidden talents in every county in South Mississippi, which makes Biloxi, Moss Point, Ocean Springs, Gulfport, and every area very different and distinctive,” she said.
Claughton announced that she has recently formed the Slow Food Gulf Coast Mississippi-Alabama organization. Members meet regularly and learn about cooking wild foods in a different way.
“The Audubon Society and the Moss Point Market are trying something new,” said Pascagoula River Audubon Center Director Mark LaSalle.
“This is a new model of the Fresh Market, and we plan to hold nature and market festivals year round,” he said.
The Moss Point Market closed in June because of the hot weather and organizers said they will reopen the market after Labor Day.
Festival-goers strolled along the riverbank and enjoyed the bottomland forest, wading birds, extraordinary wildlife, unique art and food, and native plants.
The two-hour guided boat tours on the river by McCoy’s River and Marsh Tours proved to be popular on Saturday.
For information about the Moss Point Market, call Diane Claughton at 1-800-683-4176, or contact Mark LaSalle for information about the Pascagoula River Audubon Center at 475-0825.
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Copyright (c) 2007, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.
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