Hundreds turn out for Earth's Bounty, railroad stories

Oct. 9—Sunny skies and cooler temperatures drew hundreds of area residents to Singing Brakeman Park in downtown Meridian on Saturday morning for the Earth's Bounty Festival, with many stopping next door at the Meridian Railroad Museum to listen to storytellers recount early histories of Queen City notables.

"It was an excellent turnout," said Angela Barnard, a member of the festival's advisory board. "The weather was perfect. The music was uplifting. A lot of Scott McQuaig's followers came out to listen to him. Four or five vendors sold out. It was an amazing day."

The advisory board keeps up with the number of people who come by the Earth's Bounty table, and Barnard said 868 attendees were counted as stopping by the market table during the event.

Next door at the Meridian Railroad Museum, between 75 and 100 people were on hand for Stories in the Round, a storytelling event where local residents learned a little history about early community residents and the impact the railroad had on Meridian's future, said Anne McKee, the museum's executive director.

The stories were presented by members of the Rose Hill Storytellers group. Attendees sat in chairs placed in a wide circle, then storytellers, dressed in period costume, stepped inside the circle to tell their tales. Stories ranged from histories about Shadow, a beloved dog that took up residence around the downtown depot, to gandy dancers who built the railroad through Meridian, to Susie Glover, who worked as the only woman baggage handler at the Meridian station and later became a local celebrity for the way she called out the trains in her beautiful alto singing voice.

"It's wonderful when the community works together," McKee said of the two events piggybacking off of each other.

She said the museum was able to pass out flyers about Stories in the Round to Earth's Bounty's early visitors, which she thinks helped draw their crowd.

"We at the railroad museum are on firm footing as we bring the importance of early railroad history to Meridian," she said. "It's important for all ages but especially for the children."

Earth's Bounty outdoor market is held the first Saturday of every month between April and November in the Singing Brakeman Park on Front Street.

Saturday's market had a steady stream of visitors — some walking their four-legged, furry friends — throughout the event, concluding in mid-afternoon. The festival had prepared 30 mini pumpkins for children to paint as part of a Halloween activity, but those were quickly claimed. Dusty Social Service Club volunteers were left offering face painting as an alternative.

One of the biggest draws to this month's festival was Meridian singer, songwriter and musician Scott McQuaig, who has a large following of fans from his more than four decades on the stage. His fans, some in lawn chairs and some sitting in the bleachers, seemed to be enjoying the music and Saturday's pleasant weather.

The last Earth's Bounty for 2023 will be held Saturday, Nov. 4, with a Night Market planned for Nov. 16 in conjunction with the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience and will be held at The MAX.

The Meridian Railroad Museum will be celebrating Railfest 2023 in conjunction with the Soule Live Steam Festival on Saturday, Nov. 4. Railfest will offer hands-on experiences for children and railfans with model train displays, antique vendors, ride-on trains and equipment displays.

Contact Glenda Sanders at gsanders@themeridianstar.com.