Jackson Jambalaya

Very dramatic way to ask for some barricade assistance, but hey I do simple things very dramtical too

As someone who worked as event staff at this parade a few years ago, and was threatened many times by the drunken attendees (with physical harm I might add), I could not care less if this parade ever runs again. What do you think is going to happen when hundreds of degenerate rednecks are encouraged to drink from sun up until sun down? Of course the cost of insurance and security is going to be through the roof.

Good riddance. Maybe the downtown area will clean up after this thing is gone.

I'm amazed that it lasted this long. Just a couple of drunks and a mediocre recipe for soup...how did we end up worshiping this sh*t show?

Maybe they could trade a few zoo animals for them barricades, the parade brings money to the city, the zoo is a net loser.

Good riddance. It hasn't been a good time for a long time unless you are a ghetto lush.
We would rather go support the coast for Mardi Gras. Much better atmosphere.

It has turned into a bump and grind show. Let em close it down. WHO CARES...!!

This is what our society has come to, it's someone else's fault that I didn't obey the rules. Have you ever wondered why a gas can costs so much??
Almost $12 of the cost is insurance due to someone doing something stupid with the product. A lawn mower has about a $60 charge loaded into it's cost for nothing but insurance. Wait till California- Pacific Gas and Electric, get's every known lawsuit thrown at them for this current fire as a result of 60 mph winds causing trees to fall on their lines.

What we need is a law that protects innocent victims who follow the rules and waives the rights of those who don't.

Any word from BabyChok on that zoOceanarium contract yet? How about the renovations at the Zoo? 37 days and counting since he asked Jackson taxpayers to hold the bag.

It's the best thing that the City of Jackson actually has to offer as far as entertainment. Yes we could go to the same place and do the same thing weekend to weekend; but this weekend always holds a special place on the calendar for Jackson. I guess that's why Jackson can't have nice things. There are other St. Paddy's Day Parades around the southeast and I'm sure those cities love to host them and realize the attractiveness and profitability for businesses and the community. Hope ya'll figure it out.

Isn’t this parade the sixth or seventh largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the country? It seems like it would be a good idea to re-visit security and how to handle tailgaters and figure out how to better capitalize on this; whining and bitching doesn’t help.

Good grief - Hal and Mal's makes a mint off this parade and it's "after party". Let them put up some more money.

Lets move it to Flowood and have them build a frontage road by dogwood to host it

perhaps parade on Farish street??? that's always a talking point..entertainment district (rolls eyes..)

It's not the parade that's the problem, it's the fools who sit and drink in the parking lots adjacent to the parade route all day long who wind up starting fights and causing trouble. Find a way to limit that crap and add a more family friendly street fair with food booths and live music and I think you'd have a more well-attended event. One year I even saw the Sons of Silence OMG doing security for one of the bars...make the event unattractive to the bad element and you'll get a better (more profitable) crowd.

Took my young kids every year but stopped 6 years ago after a young creative classless female puked her alcohol up on my youngest's shoes. Haven't been back, won't go back.

City of Jackson can't find money to provide appropriate barricades for this parade. But it can find plenty of money to subsidize the "Black Rodeo Parade" due to all the "economic benefits" the BRP brings to our Raical City.

Wonder what the difference between the two events is - other than the net bottom line to local businesses and the general fund tax receipts.

"Lack of Interlocking Barricades"......seems to me the City Engineer could address that by sourcing a whole bunch of large zip ties from JPD, zip tie the barricades together as they put them out and bill the cost to JPD. With all the crime in Jackson even Shad wouldn't notice that on an invoice.

How long before the Mississippi State Fair and the Dixie National Rodeo shut down. I "growed" up in Jackson. Remember when Penny's, Sears, and Woolworth's were downtown. Oh the memories.

I have worked the event, walked the event and rode in the event. It has been part of my life here in central Mississippi since it began. I have seen this parade bring people to Jackson from all over the world to play and spend in Mississippi. The White Brothers believed in Jackson long before it was cool or trendy. They both spent their lives bringing live music, fun and great food to this city. The parade was just one of the many charity events they started or were involved in, not to mention how many of us have made a living working for them. I hope the best for the parade, but things change and sometimes it is no one's fault. Good Luck, Mal. We appreciate what you and your family have done for Mississippi.

The problem is it is no longer a parade. It's become a street festival. People are bringing their grills, music boxes, and picnic tables and overflowing the thoroughfares. There are no designated areas for grilling and lounging so the congestion has gotten out of hand. If it is to work, an organizational plan needs to be developed.

I will them some really long zip ties from Harbor Freight that they can use to connect the barricades together... For only $15,000... :)

I used to love going to Sears and riding the escalator.

Move it to Rankin!!

If it's not your thing, it's not your thing. But WHY do YOU PEOPLE who not only have never been to Downtown Jackson much less the Parade, or haven't been in years, feel the need to express your negative opinions?
Agreed, 12:41 PM. This is one of the things that generates positive press about Jackson. And it is a money-maker for restaurants and hotels.
But 12:54, please! You think beer sales make up for the cost of putting on this major parade??? YOU "put up" or shut up!
Malcolm White kept Jubilee Jam alive longer than it ever could've survived and paid out of his own pocket. I'm sure he's done the same for this parade.
Thank you, Malcolm!

It is not a parade but more like a drunk fest.

The reason so many people love it is because it’s the last vestige event linked to the great place Jackson USED to be.

@3:56

So. If you don't like being at a "drunk fest" then stay home.

@4:05

You are so correct. We no longer have Jubilee Jam, the R&B Festival, the BBQ cookout, Red Beans and Rice Festival, the Jackson Mets/Generals, footballs at Memorial Stadium, fun days in the various parks around the city (without gunfire and drug sales), etc...

Take a page out of the Mardi Gras playbook down in Mobile. Anyone caught jumping barricade...$300 fine...No questions asked. Heck, they'd probably rent Jackson the barricades too.

New Orleans pulls off Mardi Gras (Carnival) year in and year out without barricades on the majority of the the length of parade routes. The thousands of people at each parade are no less intoxicated. There are incidents, but they are relatively few given the enormity of the two week event across the area. What gives, Jackson?

I enjoyed the parade for many years until my liver started shutting down on me and I had to quit going.

I'm sorry this city has turned into Detroit downtown. The only white residents left are now leaving, after sacrificing their children to terrible schools, personal danger, and no future unless you're a thug or city council member. I grew up in Jackson when the the Zoo had Monkey Island and was was thriving, the Lamar was downtown and Hal and Mal's started. In 30 years it is now a shooting gallery where you are literally putting you're life on the line when you go into town. I wish them well, but the story line of NO help for the last integrated parade is SO typical.

At 4:40... Red Beans and Rice Festival is still going on and is advertised as being soon at Smith Park....


Saw it advertised by Ardenland...

I am 1/4th Irish-American and I think it is time to stop using the highly offensive epithet "Paddy" when referring to St. Patrick, Ireland and the Irish.

It is every bit as offensive as the N-word is to African-Americans and the K-word is to Israeli-Americans.

It is a GREAT event. If you don't agree don't come, or better yet go jump in a lake. They will get this worked out.

Sweet potato queens are not worth jumping the barricades for so I don't see what the issue is

No Jubilee Jam, No Zoo and maybe now no St. Paddys can Jackson do anything anymore.

Anyone willing to bet that the eighty year old 'Sweet Potato Queens" are sipping some cheap wine and
laughing about this dilema ?

“Barricades? We’re talking about barricades? Come on man. We’re talking about barricades...barricades. We talking about barricades? Come on man. We talking about barricades, man” says new Jackson resident Stephon Marbury

You're all just a bunch of posers

3:08 when has Jackson ever been cool or trendy except for a few 30 somethings

5:35 New Orleans PD doesn’t play around during MG

In a lot of ways, the event is nothing more than an extension of The Grove at OM on game day. See who can get the drunkest without being arrested and which slithery woman-child can hoist her long-neck the highest. Debauchery on parade country-style. Key up the John Deere Green music, light the bonfire...Oh, and Stay Outa The Beans.

Kingfish are you deep in the sauce? Really "all-around great guy Malcolm White"?!! I guess total arrogance and assholeisim make one great!

@4:40, I don't mind a good drunk fest, but a lot of these people drive after they've been drinking all day, putting others at risk in the metro. Perhaps the city should prohibit coolers, grills and tailgating at the event, and increase enforcement of public intoxication and immediately deal with those who hop the barricades into the parade route. Additionally, the city should team up with Hinds, Rankin and Madison Counties to increase DUI enforcement in the vicinity of the parade. When people understand that bad behavior will be dealt with swiftly and severely, the whole event will be much safer, and people will more comfortable bringing their families to the event.

@5:35 - people know that the LSP and NOPD don't tolerate any bullshit and offenders are dealt with quickly. JPD and HCSO do not have the resources, talent or capacity to deal effectively with such an event; rather, they have accepted that a certain element will attend the event and act in a certain way. JPD and HCSO should take a page from the Harrison County playbook with how they deal with black spring break - immediately arrest offenders and set up a mobile booking station on prem. Transport violent folks and those accused of felonies to the detention center, and issue field releases to nonviolent folks.

PARADE is the operative word. Have a parade with parade rules and designate other areas for festival activities only. Otherwise, the thing will get out of hand and die of its own weight.

No Jubilee Jam, No Zoo and maybe now no St. Paddys can Jackson do anything anymore.

And the airport has one working runway and the crappers don't work. But the Airport Board enjoyed a great all-expense paid trip to Paris.

Oooo..la...la

The issue is not whether parading about and getting drunk in public is bad (although it is in my opinion)...the issue is whether the parade has the decency to provide appropriate security and safety for the parade-goers and the innocent bystanders in the vicinity as well.

That comes with a high cost. Maybe this started out as an innocent little get-together at first, but it is definitely on a larger scale in terms of popularity/infamy and risk.

I just don’t know if I will be able to survive if Jackson loses this cultural event.

I was so looking forward to the return of Kenny Stokes in a green vest with the buttons popping off in every direction. Damn!

6:48 -you obviously don't know a damn thing about which you type, have not been to downtown Jackson in years, or just enjoy writing novels as you eat your Cheetos and drink your 40's.

I am white. I live in Jackson. I haven't sacrificed my children's education because I paid for it at a damn good school in addition to paying taxes that are wasted by JPS. But I have not sacrificed my family's safety, lives, or anything else by living in this city. I work in downtown Jackson, stay at my office well past dark-thirty most every day, travel the city streets between my office and my home without worrying about packing (have no issue with guns, but don't feel the need to have one on my hip at all times). Eat out in fine restaurants throughout the city at noon and at night, and never worry about my safety. Don't lock my vehicle at my office, home or while out and about at other events.

You can make up whatever crap you feel would make headlines, but the reality is that life in (the right parts) of Jackson is every bit as safe as your in the subdivision of stucco faced homes in Madison, or in your trailer in Rankin.

Continue living in your world of make-believe since it makes you happy. But don't think everybody that has chosen to live in Jackson (either remaining here, or one of the many new residents that have recently moved into NE Jackson from Madison and Rankin) are lacking in common sense and don't give a damn about their own safety or that of their family.

Don't lock my vehicle at my office, home or while out and about at other events.

That's a mistake.

I love how any given post can deteriorate into the "crazies" who still live in Jackson, the "out of touch elitists" from Madison and the "rednecks" from Rankin. I have lived in all three areas and there are great people in each. Would it be too much to stay on subject?

6:20- Let me get this straight. You are so deeply insulted that you perceive someone is saying you don’t keep your family safe in Jackson that you respond by insulting the homes of people in Madison and Rankin. You’re so proud to stand up for the those living in Jackson that you disparage people living in trailers? Got it. You’re so cool and enlightened. We should definitely listen to you... Get some self awareness about your own hypocrisy.

Oh and anyone who doesn’t lock their vehicle “while out and about” is, in fact, endangering their children. Thanks for proving their point. Good luck.

Not rocket science nor is it social science. It's simply an event that began small and has now grown and in some ways were unanticipated. It's time to reevaluate and reorganize, not quit. Success has to be managed. When this thing was small it didn't strain the normal resources, now it's big so new rules and procedures must be enacted. Stop blaming Jackson and use common sense.

Aha! Captain Stucco re-emerges at 6:20. He's so predictable. Well, he did leave out 'cookie cutter' this time.