Mississippi Roads sets up camp in the Madison County town of Gluckstadt at St. Joseph Catholic Church. We are at the 18th annual Gluckstadt German Festival.

The community of Gluckstadt was founded in 1905 by families of German descent. The first church was built in 1917 and today St. Joseph Catholic Church is attended by some one hundred and twenty families. The roots in this community run deep and the people are proud to preserve their German heritage and traditions that stretch back hundreds of years.

And speaking of preserving; How many of us have old items in our attic or garages that we believe could hold value but we are not exactly sure and thus we are too afraid to throw them away. Well, there is a entire television series devoted to pack rats just like you and me.  Antiques Roadshow, airing Monday nights on MPB, will begin its ninth season with a stop in Memphis at the Cook Convention Center. The series continues to be a favorite among PBS and MPB viewers with a “one man’s trash, is another man’s treasure” approach to antiques appraisal. One couple from Louisville have been avid viewers of the Antiques Roadshow since it began and didn’t want to miss out on taking some of their own treasures to be checked out. Karen Keane, an appraiser for the show, takes a look at their beloved china cabinet as Mississippi Roads follows the Fords through a behind- the-scenes look at how the show is produced.

What would a German Festival be without an Oom Pah band.  No need to worry the great band Die Mitternatchers from Birmingham, Alabama is on hand to perform all of your favorite polka and traditional German folk music. There is also plenty of opportunities to get out and do the duck dance.

And speaking of music, in our next story we meet a Ridgeland woman who has been performing since she was just a little girl.  We sit down and talk with young, up and coming, Jazz Singer Joanne Parks who released her first CD last year and is currently recording material for her next project. She’s a full time musician who teaches piano and performs at various venues all over the state. She’s also a regular entertainer at Fitzgerald’s in the Jackson Hilton Hotel.

What festival in Mississippi would be complete without food. Well here at the Germanfest your tastebuds are sure to tingle with authentic German food like bratwurst, shish kabob, hot pretzels and gallons and gallons of homemade sauerkraut.

Next we pull out the hot sauce and head down to Natchez to chow down on some mouth watering tamales at Fat Mamas.  Fat Mama's Tamales is located in the Log Cabin at 500 South Canal St. in Natchez, Mississippi. This restaurant serves some of the best spicy tamales and margaritas in town. The cross-cultural spicy mix of Mexican and Cajun dishes makes Fat Mama's restaurant a unique dining experience. Other than the usual eats you would expect to find in a history-rich Southern town, they serve up specialty dishes, such as gringo pies, tamales, chili, marinated onions, boudin, Natchez nachos, fire and ice pickles, beer in frosted mugs, pralines, snicker bar pies, and their world famous "Knock-You-Naked" margaritas. So whether you eat in, haul-it-home, or just hang out and enjoy the friendly atmosphere on the patio, Fat Mama's will light your fire!

Here at the Gluckstadt German Festival there is fun for all ages and one of the most popular attractions is the wagon rides for the kids. It gives them a sense of what travel was like over a hundred years ago before the automobile became so prevalent in our society.

In our next story, we travel west to Vicksburg and discover another form of transportation that is going the way of the dinosaur.  When the Mississippi river changed course in 1876, it left the city of Vicksburg without a harbor. To compensate for this, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created the Yazoo Diversion Canal. The city of Vicksburg got it’s harbor back, but the new canal also created King’s Point Island. This left hundreds of residents of the newly created island in need of a way to get back and forth to the mainland. In 1903, the problem was solved when the King’s Point Ferry began service.

Over the past 100 years, Mississippi’s last cable drawn ferry has seen many changes. From it’s beginnings as a rope drawn ferry, to motorized cable to eventually becoming a free-run ferry in 2005. When that happens, the last cable drawn ferry in the state will become a part of history. Join us as we take one last cable drawn ride on The King’s Point Ferry

There is fun for the entire family at the Gluckstadt Germanfest and kids will have a ball at this fall festival. From face painting to the football toss; there are many games and activities to keep the kids entertained. The great thing about the games here is that they are all operated by the children of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Just looking at their smiling faces reflects the enjoyment that they are getting out of their jobs here at the festival.

And speaking of loving your job, next we meet a Tupelo man who swells with artful pride when he speaks of his chosen profession.  Darrell Cousin owns and operates The Shoe Shine Doctor in Tupelo. He learned the trade from his father and has been shining shoes for over thirty years. In the seventies he operated the shoe shine concession at NBC studios where he worked on the shoes of the stars.

Our next segment features some men and women who take their jobs very seriously. We climb aboard the 87 foot Coast Guard Cutter Pompano, meet her crew, and go out on patrol in the Gulf of Mexico. The Pompano is based out of the Coast Guard station in Gulfport and is one of the newer classes of ships in the fleet. She has a crew of ten and is armed with two 50 caliber machine guns. Her commanding officer is Lt.Jg Meg Rapelyee who says she joined the Coast Guard because of the unlimited opportunities available to women there.

When you come out to Germanfest in Gluckstadt it is a good idea to bring your lawn chairs so you can soak up the sun and the wonderful Fall weather that we have here in Mississippi. But if you forget your chair there are plenty of hay bales scattered around the area for your rest and relaxation to enjoy this fantastic free festival.

And speaking of free festivals, next we travel south to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and get in the mood for the holiday season with Christmas on the Water. The festival takes place in early December in the town of Biloxi. Christmas on the Water Boat Parade is a parade of beautifully lighted boats that stretches from Broadwater Marina to Point Cadet beginning at 5:45pm and ending with a fantastic fireworks display over the Mississippi Sound after the parade.