Something for everyone on May 30 at the 2026 ParkaPalooza, a fundraiser for Park Along the River

 

 

This will be the fourth year for Leadership Union County’s ParkaPalooza, and is expected to be the organization’s largest and most diverse community event to date. The event is held annually to benefit the Reimagining New Albany’s Park Along the River project. The event  provides continuing support for Park Along the River’s long-term transformation. The community vision is for a venue that will positively impact the local economy and draw visitors of diverse ages, backgrounds and interests to enjoy the natural beauty of the Little Tallahatchie River area.

Union Co. Heritage Museum to bring Nature Education and Activities to 2026 ParkaPalooza

Nature education is a part of the annual ParkaPalooza event this year. There will be hands-on activities as well as speakers at the event, including Rock Bottom NatureFest 2026 on Saturday, May 30, 10 – 4 at the BNA Tennis and Soccer Complex.

Nature hands-on activities are partially sponsored by National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF). NEEF has funded a portion of the Park Along the River’s renovation through a grant to the Little Tallahatchie Riverway Conservancy.

The Conservancy has partnered with the Union County Heritage Museum educational team to provide activities and speakers for the event. NatureFest activities are free. They are available from 10 until 3.

Children can build a bird house with the Gum Tree Woodworkers who will have tools and materials on hand with volunteers to help the children build a birdhouse that they can take home to use in their backyard bird habitats. Educational information will be provided with other hands-on activities and there will be guest speakers.

Andrea Walker, who retired from the nursing profession in 2024 to pursue her love for birding, will teach Beginning Birding for families. She has worked as a nursery and landscape professional, a 7th grade Science Teacher, as well as a registered nurse. Andrea became interested in birds during the Covid Pandemic by watching dozens of Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds visit her feeders. She serves on the board of the Mississippi Ornithological Society and volunteers to do bird research and bird surveys, as often as possible. She will present at 1 p.m.

Another learning opportunity will be provided on Beginning Beekeeping with MSU Professor Esmaeil Amiri from the Department of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection. He will present at 11 a.m.  Professor Amiri is housed at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, MS, and has research and extension responsibilities in pollinator health.

Prior to his academic career, Esmaeil worked as a migratory professional beekeeper in Iran while pursuing his undergraduate studies. In 2008, he received a scholarship from the European Union to travel abroad and further his education. This coincided with the emergence of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), so he decided to study honey bee viruses, one of the main drivers for colony mortality.

Esmaeil earned his doctorate degree from Aarhus University in Denmark and later joined the honey bee research collaboration team in North Carolina to investigate viral infections and immune responses in honey bee queens. He has since expanded his research focus to include studying viral infections in queens, and reproduction quality, to better understand the effect of different stressors on queen health and reproduction. He joined Mississippi State University in 2022, and leads the Center for Pollinator Health in Stoneville, MS. Esmaeil’s lab members run different research projects ranging from viruses to Small Hive Beetles and colony selection for viral resistant traits with the goal to help beekeepers and queen producers in Mississippi, South East Region and Beyond.

NatureFest 2026 activities will be near the Tennis Courts outdoor area. If anyone would like to be a volunteer or have a display, contact the museum at uchm@ucheritagemuseum.com.

— Jill Smith, Director, Union County Heritage Museum

More about ParkaPalooza 2026

ParkaPalooza will take place on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the BNA Tennis & Soccer Complex in New Albany, MS, from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. All proceeds will go to supporting Park Along the River’s transformation.

 

 

The day will be filled with family-friendly events that will provide both fun and education, including:

 

• The first ParkaPalooza car show featuring classic cars, muscle cars, vintage rides, trucks, and custom builds with awards for Top 10 and Best of Show.
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  New Albany’s Dawson Horn, award winning Elvis Tribute Artist: photo from Susan Quinn Sand video

  A day full of live music of multiple genres, including:

  • The Pip Project, bringing a little soul and a little rock and roll.
  • The Last Revival, a duo featuring Mike Carter and Melissa Dunnam
  • Dawson Horn from New Albany, an Elvis Tribute Artist (ETA).
  • Justin Kirk & Company, a Mississippi-based country music act, with  singer-songwriter Justin Kirk, will close out the day.
• A Kids’ Zone, with bounce houses, arts and crafts, games, pony rides and much more.
• Shopping with marketplace vendors of many types.
• The free Nature-Fest area discussed above, available from 10 am – 3 pm.
• A variey of food trucks, offering everything from smash burgers to fried bologna sandwiches, pulled pork, chicken plates and more.