Founders Day is an annual tradition which returns to Copiah County this week. Wesson, founded in 1864, will celebrate its 160th birthday. Downtown will be filled with people celebrating the history of the town started by James Madison Wesson.
James Wesson brought a cotton mill to the town and sold it in 1871 to William Oliver and John T. Hardy. Oliver and Hardy renamed the mill Mississippi Mills, and used Thomas Edison’s new lightbulb a year after he perfected them.
The Wesson Chamber of Commerce announced Friday-Saturday, May 3-4, as the date for Founders Day celebrations. Friday’s events include music performances from the Co-Lin Jazz Band 5-6 p.m. and the Until Wesson Worship Company at 6:30 p.m.
The Chamber will host a 5K Color Fun Run at 6 p.m. Friday. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. outside of Copiah Bank, and the race will start in front of the bank. Registration is $30 for adults, students or children under 18 years old are $20. Participants are asked to wear white shirts the day of the race.
Vendors open Saturday morning at 8 a.m. Festivities include a Kids Fun Zone, food vendors and trucks, craft vendors, music and dance performances, a parade, and fireworks.
The Co-Lin Sojourners will take the stage at 10 a.m., followed by the crowing of the Founders Day Queen and princesses at 11 a.m. Ethan Ainsworth will perform at noon, followed by the Co-Lin Ambassadors at 1:30 p.m.
A perennial highlight of the celebrations, the parade begins at 3 p.m.
The featured band will perform 6-9 p.m., with a street dance 8-9 p.m. At 9, the festivities will close out with a bang as the firework show lights up the night sky.
For more information, visit the Chamber on Facebook, email wessonchamber@gmail.com or call 601-643-5000.
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