Mal's St. Paddy's Parade founder Malcolm White told the Jackson Free Press today that he has not spoken to Sweet Potato Queens founder and author Jill Conner Browne about her plans to move the Queens' part of the annual parade to Ridgeland next year. "She's totally in charge of that: she made the announcement; she made the decision," White said. "I know probably less than you do. I have not talked with her; I don't have any details."
Browne confirmed rumors yesterday at a brunch at the Jackson Hilton that she will instruct her group of Queens and wannabes, devotees of her book series, to march at the Renaissance at Colony Park in Ridgeland one week after the annual Mal's St. Paddy's parade in downtown Jackson. Browne has not immediately returned calls for comment today, but told WLBT that the parade has grown too large to accommodate her group. The Sweet Potato Queens will still stay at the Hilton Jackson on County Line Road and hold other events at BRAVO! Restaurant and the Everyday Gourmet in Northeast Jackson, she said.
The Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that Mal's St. Paddy's Parade draws 70,000 people to the city and provides an overall economic impact of $6.8 million for the city. Attendance for the parade has risen, from an estimated 50,000 in 2006 to 70,000 in 2008, the most recent year for which data is available.
"I think it's a win-win situation for the metro area, but we do understand the need for them to move," JCVB spokeswoman Kelly Shannon said. "They've grown exponentially, and their activities have grown as well. The JCVB is definitely going to continue to support the parade and the weekend events, because it's an iconic event for our city."
The JCVB does not have specific attendance numbers for the Sweet Potato Queens' segment of the parade. This year, they marched at the end of a parade with 50 floats and various walking krewes.
Larry Hollingsworth, general manager of the Hilton Jackson, told the JFP last week that his hotel hosts roughly 3,000 Sweet Potato Queens over the course of the parade weekend. White said that only Browne has an access to accurate attendance numbers for the Sweet Potato Queens. Browne handles registration and plans events for her group, with a portion of proceeds benefitting Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital.
"She has, in the past, told me that she draws between 1,000 and 1,500 people," White said today. "I have no way of verifying that."
Jonathan Lee, president of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, said that he hopes the city can entice Browne's group to remain a part of the parade.
"We're very disappointed," Lee said. "I'm hoping that there's an opportunity for us to maybe lure them into sticking around Jackson. We'd hate to see them leave, and they definitely bring something to the city that I don't we think we can replicate."
In a statement to WLBT, White, also executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission and co-founder of Hal & Mal's restaurant, said, "The show goes on."
"We wish Jill and the Sweet Potato Queens all the best," White added.
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