Mississippi Roads travels up to Neshoba County for the 7th annual Ham Jam Arts Festival in downtown Philadelphia.
http://www.hamjamartsfestival.com/
There are some fifteen teams here competing for trophies and cash awards in hog, shoulder and rib categories. The top five in each division are awarded prizes. There is also a grand prize winner crowned for the entire festival.
The contest is sanctioned by the Memphis Barbeque Network; so you know that you will find some quality scrumptious pork right here in downtown Philadelphia.
And speaking of food in downtown Philadelphia; in our first story we go around the corner to Peggy’s Restaurant and chow down on some delicious home cooking.
For a southern, home-cooked meal, you can’t ask for a place better than Peggy’s. It may be a restaurant, but it truly is her home. For almost 50 years, she has invited people in to join her family for a lunch of her famous fried chicken, butter beans, okra, apple pie, all the good stuff. Cooked right there in her kitchen every morning. Just don’t ask for your check. You won’t get one. It’s on the honor code here at Peggy’s, so just drop in your money on the way out. Make change if you need. But don’t expect Peggy’s to change. For 47 years it has been a simple, down home lunch, and it doesn’t look like that’s going anywhere.
http://www.geocities.com/peggysfriedchicken/
The Ham Jam Arts Festival is a two day event that starts on Friday and ends on Saturday and it usually takes place the third weekend in April. The event is totally free and open to the public.
You will find many arts and crafts vendors selling their wares at this arts festival in downtown Philadelphia. You can find anything from paintings to beads to pottery to wood workings. There is plenty of quality, selection and great bargains to be had at this popular annual event.
And speaking of selection and bargains; there is a store here in Philadelphia that still offers all the amenities of an old time general store with that same great personal service.
Williams Brothers is going into their second century of doing business, but if someone hadn’t been in here for 50 years, they’d still recognize the place, it changes so little. Maybe it’s the taste of the past that you get as soon as you walk in that sets this store apart. There is something stable about the past, or at least our perception of the past, especially past so far enough back that we didn’t live it, we just imagine how good and innocent it was. Something we don’t sense in modern times. Williams Brothers is about as snug as a fireplace and hearth is on a winter night.
Top notch local and regional talent can be found at two different stages at the Ham Jam Arts Festival. On Friday night, they have what they call a “Jesus Jam”; where several Christian bands headline the entertainment. On Saturday, there are talent competitions, local performances and at night regional acts take the stage for some high energy entertainment.
And speaking of talent, in our next story, we go inside the wacky yet talent laden world of editorial cartoonist Marshall Ramsey.
Acclaimed editorial cartoonist Marshall Ramsey has an opinion about everything but that’s his job to have an opinion and to make people think. He is a two time Pulitzer finalist and is syndicated around the nation in numerous publications. But cancer plays no favorites; thus when Marshall was diagnosed with malignant melanoma he was dealt a shocking blow. He chose to fight this deadly disease and also to help other people combat this scary monster.
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