Jackson Free Press

Sal & Mookie's New York Pizza and Ice Cream Joint has been a local favorite since opening its doors in 2007. For the past three years, the restaurant has brought fun to the streets of Jackson with the annual Sal & Mookie's Street Carnival.

This year, the family-friendly event joins forces with the Sweet Potato Queens as a part of their Zippity Doo Dah Weekend. In the past, the festival has featured lots of food, balloon artists, magicians, face painters, musicians, space jumps, clowns, silent auctions and carnival games such as apple bobbing, cupcake walks, ring tosses and dunking booths. Games cost 25 cents, 50 cents or a dollar each, with proceeds benefiting Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children.

The carnival features plenty of contests, too, with pizza- and ice-cream-eating contests for adults and children, and prizes like a year's worth of free pizza or ice cream. Participants in the port-a-potty decorating contest will find out if they've won at this year's carnival.

The biggest prize at Saturday's carnival is a new car from Patty Peck Honda. With 3,000 raffle tickets for sale at $25 each, all the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the hospital.

The Sal & Mookie's Street Carnival is all about having a good time for a great cause. It's never short on fun, and it's the perfect way to prepare for the Zippity Doo Dah Parade happening right down the street that evening.

The Sal & Mookie's Street Carnival is 10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. March 26, in the green space behind Sal & Mookie's (565 Taylor St., 601-368-1919) and the Schimmel's building.