35,000 Expected in Cotton District Friday

From Commercial Dispatch- Starkville Bureau:

Crowd of 35,000 expected for annual Bulldog Bash

STARKVILLE - Organizers expect nearly 35,000 people to attend Friday's Bulldog Bash, billed as the largest free outdoor music festival in Mississippi.

The Mississippi State University Student Association puts on and raises money to host the event, now in its fifth year. The festival is typically held before Mississippi State's Southeastern Conference home opening football game, which will be against Georgia this year on Saturday.

Nine acts will appear on three stages.

A pep rally will take place at the main stage on University Drive at 6:45 p.m.

Fanfare, a family-oriented portion of the event, runs from about 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will include games, chances to have photos taken with MSU's mascot "Bully" and other related activities.

Parking will be available at Humphrey Coliseum and the Hunter Henry Center.

MSU's Night Route bus service will run as normal Thursday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday night, organizers will eliminate the Cotton District Grill stop. Instead, the Bulldog Bash drop-off point will be at the intersection of Nash Street and University Drive. The Night Route will otherwise run until 2 a.m. Saturday.

The Night Route will not run Saturday night to due the game.

The Bulldog Bash schedule is as follows:

n Main stage: Will Hoge, 7:30 p.m.; 112, 9:30 p.m.; Julie Roberts, 11 p.m.

n Bulldog Deli stage: Nash Street, 5 p.m.; Josh Byrd, 7:30 p.m.; Gabby Johnson, 10 p.m.

n Cotton District Grill stage: Chris Love, 7:30 p.m.; Bill Cooke and Band, 9:30 p.m.; Loose Chain, 11:15 p.m.

Street closings will be as follows:

n University Drive between Nash and Maxwell streets will close starting at 6 a.m.

n Page Avenue and Col. Muldrow Avenue will close after 9 a.m. Friday.

n All streets in the vicinity except Nash Street, Hogan Street to Holtsinger Avenue and Lummus Drive will close after 2 p.m. Friday. Vehicles in the area must be moved by 2 p.m. or face towing at the vehicle owner's expense.

For information, call the MSU Student Association office at 325-3917.