The Hattiesburg Stink Fest is a music & arts festival that ties communities together and promotes awareness for proper wastewater treatment. Created in late April of 2014, the festival has so swiftly brought together local businesses, musicians, artists, and politicians to help fight the stink of Hattiesburg. Press:
In recent years, Hattiesburg residents have found common ground through an uncommo
n smell, and on June 28, residents will be united once again at Hattiesburg Stink Fest — a day of music, arts and wastewater awareness. Festival Director Michael Peerboom said years ago he was introduced to the smell of Hattiesburg’s lagoons, and over time, he learned more about the city’s problem.
“We didn’t know what the stink was years ago, but over time people tell you about it, then you start to learn all these things about it,” he said. Peerboom, a local concert promoter, said he wants festivalgoers to not only enjoy a 12-hour block of great rock ’n’ roll music, but also leave the Hattiesburg Stink Fest with a better understanding of one of the city’s biggest issues.
“The festival is promoting awareness that we need clean air and clean water, and an up-to-par sewage lagoon,” Peerboom said. When Hattiesburg Councilwoman Mary Dryden heard about the festival, she asked Peerboom if she could get involved with the event.
“She wanted to inform the public about the issues, and what’s really happening in the city,” Peerboom said. Dryden, who is set to take the stage at 6 p.m., said she’s excited to have the opportunity to connect with the public and update them about the City Council’s latest decisions regarding the city’s lagoons.
“What I hope to share with them is to give them some history about how we got to this place and where we are in the process of our long-term solution,” she said. “This is an extremely large project. The problem is huge, and we need everybody’s support.”
Dryden said much of the city’s sewage and wastewater issues came into play in 2005.
“We’re still suffering from Hurricane Katrina,” she said. “It’s one of the biggest catastrophes that have hit the U.S., and we’re still dealing with the aftermath. Not having electricity for a period of time, things weren’t working at the lagoon and it started the whole problem. Then, when you add the yeast plant coming to town, nobody had any clue what problems that was going to cause.”
Dryden said hearing about the group of community-minded citizens’ festival was like a breath of fresh air.
“The thing that has always concerned me the most is apathy,” she said. “When people don’t know what’s going on or care, that’s what ruins communities. ... How wonderful that some of the young people in the community want to step up and get involved ... I think that using their sense of humor and love of music is wonderful.”
Peerboom said from 2 p.m. Sunday, musical artists from across the region will be lending their talents to the event.
“All the bands are very excited about it,” he said. “They are seeing every day how fast it’s growing and how many people are willing to get involved … A lot of businesses are sponsoring the event and helping to pay for the stage, and the bands are all doing it for free.”
Peerboom said it has always been a priority to make the festival free to the public.
“We’re not trying to make money — we’re trying to raise awareness,” he said. “I also want to help bring money downtown to help out the businesses down there, and I want to shed some light on these musical acts that are playing this festival for free. … We plan on keeping awareness alive in the city for years to come. This is just the trial run.”
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