Newton County residents will want to mark their calendars for Sept. 15 as the first ever Hickory Pick’N Day is sure to be an event no one will want to miss.
Shelby Harris, who is organizing the event, said Hickory Pick’N Day will combine shopping, food and fun into one crazy, fun day that everyone will enjoy.
“It’s a day where everyone can come to Hickory Pick’N and shop inside and outside,” she said.
Plus, Harris said, there will be plenty of family friendly things for children to.
Among the list of activities on tap for the event are a petting zoo, complete with a camel, a baby zebra and a kangaroo, food and craft vendors, a bounce house and plenty of shopping opportunities.
“The Newton County Band will be there selling Mikes Frozen Yogurt,” Harris said.
“They’ll also have a hotdog cart. We’re trying to get face painting for the kids, but we haven’t had anyone agree to it yet.”
Hickory Pick’N Day, Harris said, is a compilation of all the things she wants residents to have in the county.
While the town used to have Hickory Day, where local vendors and residents could mingle, she said that event died off.
With Hickory Pick’N Day, she hopes to bring the community spirit of Hickory Day back.
“We used to have Hickory Day where vendors would come,” she said.
“I didn’t want to go to the mayor and through the city, so I’m just calling it Hickory Pick’N Day.”
Although the event is named after her store, Hickory Pick’N, Harris said she hopes local business owners will want to get involved and give residents a fun event to attend.
“Besides Loose Caboose, there’s really not much to do in this county,” she said. “We’re hoping to get everybody involved.”
Currently, about 20 vendors have signed up for booths at the Sept. 15 event, but there is still time to apply.
“The application is kinda due by September 9, but I’ll continue to take applications if I need to,” Harris said, adding she wants to give businesses as much time as possible to join in the fun.
However, space is limited, and applications are coming in at a steady pace. Harris said, if things continue, they may be full by the Sept. 9 deadline.
If someone wants to get a booth, she said they should sign up immediately.
Vendor applications, which cost $30, can be picked up at Hickory Pick’N, 9560 MS 503, by calling Hickory Pick’N at 601-357-5057 or via email, hickorypickn@yahoo.com.
Harris said she hopes to see plenty of vendors and residents come out to take part in the festivities.
If all goes well, she said, she might make Hickory Pick’N Day an annual event.
“I’m hoping this will be a fun event,” she said. “If it’s a real crazy day, we might try to make it an annual thing.”
