NEW ALBANY, Miss. (WTVA) - Every fall thousands of people flock to New Albany for an annual event that seems to be getting bigger and better each year.
The 20th annual Tallahatchie River Festival is underway this weekend.
This year there were some major changes made in the final days leading up to the festival.
People who made their way to the Tallahatchie River Festival say there are a number of reasons why you want to take in the sights and sounds."
"It's great music," adds Kellye Lewis, Ripleu resident. "Great times, wonderful food, wonderful vendors, wonderful homemade creations. "Everything is here for the family. Good times good drinks."
"Missing out on the weather, the fun, the food, great music," added Brittney Ligon, New Albany resident. "They're just missing out. You need to come on down."
And come on down they did but once festivalgoers arrived, there were some changes to the festival.
Vendors say the changes turned out to be a good thing.
"[We were] worried that you know with everything changed it would be different," adds Jason Robbins, vendor. "It's working out good. The traffic flows good. It's a good crowd."
Now in years past the Tallahatchie River festival has been held in front of the Union County Courthouse but due to a high-profile trial this year organizers during the middle of the week decided to move it to this location.
They have quickly discovered that with this new layout it's quicker for people to walk around.
"It's a great venue for music," adds Phil Nanney, executive director for Union County Development Association. "It's been a good venue for crowd control and traffic control so our police department and sheriff's department have been very pleased with the move."
"It was fun despite having to change the location," added Ligon. "It was safer and it was right by the park so it was still a lot of fun."
For those that attend festivals on a yearly basis they point out with the changes there are pro's and con's but all in all the changes worked out for the best.
"The pros to having it out here is that there is more room," adds Lindsey Faust, Water Valley resident. "It's a lot more spacious. It seems like there are a lot more vendors this year. The downside is you don't get that cool breeze between the buildings. The location is great. There's a lot more space and the music is not as loud as it has been in the past because it's not so closed in."
So maybe organizers have discovered a new site for next year's Tallahatchie River Festival.
This year's location is just a few blocks away from the Union County Courthouse.
