Southaven gets ready for Springfest

April 14, 2023 Bob Bakken

Photo: Midway rides with the PBJ Happee Day Shows are put together on the Snowden Grove Park grounds in preparation for Springfest, which starts on April 18. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

Southaven is getting ready to celebrate its annual Springfest festival, set to start April 18 at Snowden Grove Park. Springfest is held each year as a birthday celebration for Southaven, which became a city on April 15, 1980.

This year’s festival will feature its annual activities, such as the barbecue cooking contest, PBJ Happee Day Shows midway rides and other items.

But this year will be extra special with the reopening of the BankPlus Amphitheater to concerts with the April 20 performance of Better Than Ezra with special guests Sister Hazel and Ingram Hill will take the stage. Tickets are on sale, starting as low as $30 at https://bpamp.com/BTEFB.

“The concerts are now promoted and produced by the City of Southaven, and the goal is to have one during Springfest to add another entertainment option,” said Mayor Darren Musselwhite about the concerts during Springfest.

The annual Springfest BBQ Cooking Contest is a dual-sanctioned event with the Memphis Barbecue Network and the Kansas City Barbecue Society. As of Friday, April 14, there were 83 teams signed up to take part in cooking championships. Application information and rules are found here.

Carnival “Wristband Nights” are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of Springfest week. The carnival midway opens at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with free admission at the gate, and $20 Carnival Wristbands may be purchased inside the Carnival area for unlimited rides.

On Friday and Saturday, Springfest admission at the gate is free before 12 noon on Friday and Saturday, and Carnival tickets will be for sale in the Carnival area at $1 each, or 24 tickets for $20.00.

After 12 noon, admission cost is as follows: