It was 1975, mood rings, pet rocks and eight-track tapes were all the rage and the Yellow Dog Festival in Moorhead had its very first occurrence.
I was 12 years-old and as a member of Boy Scout Troop 47, we were assigned to wash and wax the firetrucks for the parade and display.
We got one done but then the temptations of a high-pressure hose took over and it took a while to finish the job as we soaked the troop and our scoutmaster Doug Russell. We got a little bit of talking to afterwards as I remember as well.
There’s no Firetruck washing by the Boy Scouts, I presume, but this Friday and Saturday the (by my count) 44th Yellow Dog Festival will take place anyway. First on Friday night, there will be a special banquet at MDCC in the cafeteria with new President Dr. Tyrone Jackson on hand as the keynote speaker. It all starts at 6:00 p.m. and tickets are $20.
The very first get together featured a flea market, a political rally, art exhibit sale and band music.
This year’s fun and frivolity lets loose with plenty of games for the kids and lots of entertainment and food for everyone of all ages. Mayor George Holland is forging ahead despite the weather.com predicted precipitation for the event.
“The festival will start at 10:00 Saturday morning – rain or no rain (laughing) and go on all day,” Mayor Holland said. “We have music and fun for the kids and different booths, food vendors and all types of vendors. We’ll even have a big BBQ Cookoff Contest this year.”
The festival is normally held in late April but rainy weather and other Delta area festivals helped make the decision to push back the festival.
The Delta hamlet is known as the birthplace of our current Governor, Phil Bryant and country music legend and Grand Ole Opry Star Johnny Russell, as well as home to Mississippi Delta Community College.
But the town’s first claim to fame and the festival’s name is – “Where the Southern Crosses the Yellow Dog.”
The spot where two train tracks crossed at 90-degree angles was pretty much unheard of and made Moorhead a focal point for passenger and freight connections.
Famous paintings and blues songs commemorate the historic ground and a Mississippi Department of Archives and History marker gives a full description.
While there, stop by the brand spanking new Phillips Health Center for a look see then head over to the Yellow Dog Depot.
The old train depot is now a historical museum. Check out the YANKY72 display and learn the history of the tragic event and families involved.
There’s also historical displays of the town’s founder and friend of Thomas Edison – Chester Pond.
There’s plenty of railroad information as well as the town. The mayor even does tours if you stop by outside of the festival.
Moorhead has changed and morphed over the years as many Delta towns have but the history is rich and celebrated. Stop by the Yellow Dog Festival, have a good time and tell us all about it afterwards.
