Bodock Festival 2026

welcome to the 32nd annual

music food trucks craft vendors train rides kids corner post throw pet show pancake breakfast A supplement to the Pontotoc Progress

First choice Bank Pavilion pontotoc, mississippi

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WELCOME TO PONTOTOC WE WELCOME YOU TO THE 32ND ANNUAL

Bodock Festival!

D

ear Friends, It is my great pleasure, as your Chamber/Main Street Director, to welcome you to the 32nd Annual Bodock Festival!

For 32 years, this beloved celebration has brought our community together in a way that is uniquely our own. We are thrilled to welcome you, your family, and visitors from near and far for another wonderful Bodock Festival weekend.

We’ll kick things off Friday morning with our Community Pancake Breakfast. Please note that

this delicious tradition has moved to the new fire station and will begin at 6:00 a.m. Join us for warm pancakes, great fellowship, and a wonderful start to the festival weekend.

Then, on Saturday, the festival truly comes to life! The day begins with our Antique Car Show at 9:00 a.m., followed by entertainment, dancers, and our Bodock Pageant Queens on the Main Stage beginning at 10:00 a.m. Get those fur babies in their best costume for our Pet Show at 9:00.

The afternoon brings even more Bodock fun,

Bodock Festival Board We hope that everyone has a fun time at the 32nd Annual Bodock Festival!

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including our Bodock Post Throw at 1:00 p.m. So get those arms ready to throw. At 3:00 p.m., we will gather for a very special moment as we open a community time capsule and seal another for future generations. This meaningful event will celebrate our past while preserving memories for years to come.

As the sun begins to set, get ready for an incredible evening of music. Put on your rose-colored glasses and enjoy performances by Blues Child at 4:00 p.m., Grand Ole Opry member Jon Conlee at 6:00 p.m., and the Shameless All-Star Country Band at 8:00 p.m. Food trucks will be serving festival favorites throughout the evening until 10:00 p.m.

Throughout the day, be sure to explore our vendor area, enjoy the food and activities, and spend some time shopping with our downtown Main Street businesses. Complimentary golf cart

shuttles will run between the festival grounds and Main Street, making it easy to experience everything our community has to offer.

Whether you’ve been attending the Bodock Festival for all 32 years or this is your very first visit, we are so glad you’re here. Thank you for being part of this cherished tradition and for helping us continue to make the Bodock Festival a celebration our community can be proud of.

I hope you’ll take time to slow down, enjoy the music, share a meal, visit with old friends, make new ones, and most of all, create lasting memories with the people you love.

Welcome to the Bodock Festival. We are so happy to celebrate with you!

With warmest wishes, Beth Grisham Your Chamber/Main Street Director

Front row from left is Ryan Bramlett, Mitchell Tatum, Michelle Martin, Virginia Burnside, Martin Ball, Jan Orr, Shannon Rutledge, Brenda Havens, Misty Dobbs, second row from left is Sydnei Bramlett, Laura Reed, Willie McShan, Phyllis High, Beth Grisham, Anna McDonald, Tammie Hannon, Chasity Walker, Eugene Adams, and Lisa Bryant. Board members not shown are Carrie Stringer, Raymond Moody, Bob Poe, Brad White, Don Russell, Ellen Russell, Nathan Gregory, Kathy Tackitt and Sherry Thompson.

Photo by Regina Butler

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BODOCK FESTIVAL SPONSORS

Main Stage SPONSORS

PONTOTOC COUNTY

WORKS

Pontotoc County Board of Supervisors Chancery Clerk: Ricky Ferguson, District 1: Benny Moorman, District 2: Mike McGregor, District 3: Gary Lynn Washington, District 4: Ernie Wright, Distict 5: Randy Ray

CITY OF

Mayor and Board of Aldermen Bob Peeples, Mayor; Jessica Williams, City Clerk; Monica Lindsey, Ward 1 Alderman; Mickey Mapp, Ward 2 Alderwoman; Marty Mills, Ward 3 Alderman; David Anderson, Ward 4 Alderman; Jeff Stafford, Alderman-at-large

Platinum SPONSORS

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Gold

SPONSORS

Pontotoc

Progress Local. Invested. Modern Banking

Down Home, Down The Street.

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BODOCK FESTIVAL SPONSORS

Silver

SPONSORS

Bronze

SPONSORS

Montgomery Drugs REEDER FARM SUPPLY, INC. 8 | BODOCK FESTIVAL 2026

Friends

OF BODOCK KAREN D. BAILEY Epique Realty

Red ed Urgent

Clinic

Magnolia Finance

SHANNON & GRAHAM EYESinceC1895 LINIC

THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPONSORS! BODOCK FESTIVAL 2026| 9

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INFORMATION & ACTIVE CLUBS

WELCOME TO PONTOTOC

Sit back, relax and enjoy visiting family and friends at our Bodock Festival!

We have kept the festival confined to the First Choice Gateway this year and we hope you enjoy your visit!

Please put your trash in the cans we have across the town so that we can have a clean space. Have a safe and fun festival.

THE BODOCK FESTIVAL ARTWORK IS PROVIDED BY PONTOTOC COUNTY CHAMBER AND ANNA MCDONALD (IMAGE SCREEN PRINTING)

Active Clubs Our clubs are an integral part of making Bodock a fun day. If it were not for the involvement we would not have a car show, children’s corner or any of the things that make your day special and we thank them for their time and effort.

PONTOTOC RIDGE RUNNERS – Car & Antique Tractor Show

CIVITAN CLUB – Train Rides

TOWN & COUNTRY GARDEN CLUB – Hospitality Booth – T-Shirt Sales

PONTOTOC WOMENS CLUB – Hospitality Booth – T-Shirt Sales

DISCOVERY STUDENTS – Twilight Run Support

JUNIORETTES – Face Painting

CITY OF PONTOTOC FIRE DEPARTMENT – Pancake Breakfast

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CITY OF PONTOTOC POLICE DEPARTMENT – Bodock Safety

PONTOTOC COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT – Bodock Safety

PONTOTOC COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENTS – Tour De Bodock Safety

MHV HANGING GRAPES – Tour De Bodock

TOUR DE BODOCK SPONSORS – T.G. Ferguson Co. – Tupelo Small Animal Hospital – Wheeler Roofing – Park Medical Clinic – Renasant Bank – Dr. Steve Montgomery – Linda Hale – Southern Physical & Aquatic Therapy – Mike Simon

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FRIDAY EVENTS

9:00 AM

- Pet Show

6:00 AM - 10:00 AM

(Register at 8:30 a.m.)

Get your pancakes hot and fresh at the NEW Pontotoc Fire Station on Reynold’s Street. $5

- Post Throw

– Firehouse Pancake Breakfast

SATURDAY EVENTS 6:00 AM - 10:00 AM

2:00 PM

SATURDAY ENTERTAINMENT

– Firehouse Pancake Breakfast

(MAIN STAGE)

Get your pancakes hot and fresh at the NEW Pontotoc Fire Station on Reynold’s Street. $5

- Dance/Cheer Groups

8:00 AM

- Recognition of Queens

This will be at both parking lots near the pavilion.

(Registration at 7 a.m.; Ends at 11 a.m.; Awards at 1 p.m.)

- Opening Ceremony/Time Capsule

- Car Show

- Hospitality Tent Opens - Food Trucks Open - Craft Vendors Open - Children’s Games Blow ups Mechanical Bull Petting Zoo Pony Rides Train Rides Face painting Miniature Golf

10:00 AM 10:30 AM 3:00 PM

SATURDAY NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT (MAIN STAGE)

4:00 PM

- Blues Child

6:00 PM

- John Conlee

8:00 PM

- Shameless

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Bodock Festival Map This year the festival will again be in one spot around the First Choice Gateway. Everything you want to do is just a step away, from the vendors to the food trucks to the kiddie activities.

With the festival being at the Gateway there will be no parking down in that area, however, have no fear there will be golf cart shuttles running throughout the day.

Please park on Main Street and go to the nearest depot that will be set up for you to gather at and be shuttled down to the activities. When you need a ride back you go back to the drop off point across from the festival site. There will be no parking on the side of Reynolds Street.

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SATURDAY NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Blues Child 4:00 P.M.

Blues Child was formed in 2003. They blend Rock, Blues, Americana, and Country. With captivating vocals, electrifying guitar, and a tight rhythm section, they deliver dynamic performances that resonate from intimate clubs to festival stages, leaving a lasting impression.

GRAND OLE OPRY STAR

John Conlee 6:00 P.M.

His voice has crooned into the hearts of America’s music lovers for 50 years when he signed his first record contract to ABC Records in 1976 and since then the rest is John Conlee’s history, who incidentally turned 80 years old on August 11 of this year.

He hit the Billboard Hot Country Singles in 1978 with a song he co-wrote with George Baker called “Rose Colored Glasses” which was the title track on his debut album. That song has continued to follow him throughout his career. That debut album went on to have two number one hits. For the next twenty plus years he continued to hit the charts. In 1981 he was

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inducted as member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Conlee was born on a tobacco farm in Versailles, Kentucky and has sung and played the guitar since he was 10 yers old. He sang tenor in a barbershop quartet. Before making it big on the country music scene he was a licensed mortician.

If you watch much RFD-TV and Country Road TV he has appeared on Larry’s Country Diner and Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting. He has just released a brand new CD. Conlee will hit the Bodock Stage with his rich baritone voice and storytelling style at 6 p.m. Saturday.

SATURDAY NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Shameless All-Star Country Band 8:00 P.M. In 2016 the local Shameless Band came together as a result of a conversation between Billy Armstrong and Jamie Davis. They discovered they loved 80s - 90s country music and would enjoy playing it together.

Soon the Shameless AllStar Country Band was born. Their first concert was played at the SluggBurger Festival in Corinth July 9.

Since then the band has gone one to play at a number of outlets and will hit the Bodock Stage Saturday at 8 p.m. to close out the festivities.

Shameless band members include from left: Tatum Shappley, John Stagers, Jerry Carnathan, Shannon Cooke and Billy Armstrong BODOCK FESTIVAL 2026| 19

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EATING AND SHOPPING

Get Your Pancakes The air will be tantalizing your tastebuds first thing in the morning with the smell of good hot pancakes from the fire department on Friday and Saturday morning this year. So go have breakfast with our home town folks that protect our property from fires year around. And this year the pancakes will be located on Reynolds Street at the brand new Pontotoc Fire Station so go make sure you check out the new digs while you enjoy breakfast.

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Pancake Breakfast $5 per plate Friday and Saturday 6 - 10 a.m.

Enjoy All That Festival Food!

One of our favorite things to do during the festival on Saturday from morning until night is smell the tantalizing aroma of food in the air. Food trucks will be out in full force on Saturday to give you just what you want to eat or chill down with.

So make sure you enjoy the festival food as you visit with your family and friends. All food trucks will be located with the vendors on the back lot behind the gateway pavilion.

Treasure hunt under the tents If it is a special treasure you are after you will find lots of them all in one place with the vendors being on the lower parking lot at the Bodock Festival. You won’t have to walk as far to see all the special things that will be under each tent so there will be plenty of time to walk and visit as you stroll through. So if you want something unique make sure you drop by the shopping mall tent style. All vendors will be located behind the gateway pavilion.

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FUN ACTIVITIES

Children's Corner Horses, bull riding and more!

Activities are slated for kids young and old to enjoy during the day Saturday with things cranking up early in the morning and going until late afternoon. Kids can enjoy bouncing down the blow up slides or riding a mechanical bull, or petting animals. In addition, there will be pony rides, train rides, face painting and putt putt golf. So make sure you check out the activities all on the grassy spot beside the small pavilions directly off of the trail. See the map for more information

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It's Classic Car Time!

This year the classic cars will be just a step away from the festival activities with line up to be in both parking lots to the north of the pavilion.

Hundreds of cars will be coming to the Bodock Festival for you to ooooh and ahhhh over.

And don’t forget the tractors!

Remember riding with grandpa in the corn field? Well those old tractors can bring back a lot of good reminiscing for young and old alike. Perhaps the car you drove as a teenager will be there. Perhaps you will see the truck or car like your granddaddy drove. Either way the chrome and tires are sure to bring back sweet memories to your soul.

If you would like to bring your car this year, there is plenty of space available.

The fee is $20 per car and $15 for additional cars in the same name. Registration will begin at 7:00 a.m. and the show will begin at 8 a.m. Judging will begin at 11:30 a.m. with trophies awarded at 1 p.m.

All registered entrants will be entered into drawings for cash plus door prizes.

Please come take a stroll through the past as you view all the vintage ways to go and share with your grandchildren the memories of your yesteryear.

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FUN ACTIVITIES

Let’s toss a bodock post!

Are you ready to see if you are the world champion at throwing a bodock post? When this contest first started it was the only one in the world and as far as we know, it is still the only one in the world. So try your hand at tossing a bodock post and if you win in your division you are the world champion in your division!

Eat your wheaties so you can have your muscles ready and try your hand at tossing that post from 1-2:30 p.m.

Now if your children and grandchildren think they are a whiz at throwing a baseball, let them try tossing a bodock ball around. There will be prizes awarded for those who are five and under and ages 6-12. So get your practicing arms ready for this year’s Bodock World champion post and ball throw!

The World Champion Bodock Post Throwing awards will be announced from the pavilion stage during opening ceremonies which begin at 3 p.m. See below for age divisions and cost.

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Get your pets ready!

Last year’s pet show was a barking, meowing, and slithering success as pets of all shapes and sizes were brought to be judged. Pets should report to the green space beside the picnic tables. Registration starts at 8:30 with the show starting at 9 a.m. The fee is $5 for the first class you register and $1 for each additional class. Categories include: small dog, large dog, other pet, shortest tail, longest tail, most colorful, medium dog, cat, best performing, waggiest tail and best costume. But wait! There is also a reptile division. So if you want to bring your slithery friend you can! All pet lovers small and the tall can bring their pets to enter. Your pet must be able to ride in a car, that means no elephants or giraffes or kangaroos please!

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FUN ACTIVITIES

Save the date!

Tour de Bodock will be October 10

The fall crisp air beckons bicycle riders once more to hit the trail and enjoy the sunshine and azure skies. And the Tour de Bocock ride will offer that opportunity to hundreds of riders come Saturday, October 10.

The trail offers scenic beauty. Enjoy the music of splashing streams and the songs of the South from the pretty birds that are year around residents of this area. Located across 24 miles of Pontotoc County, the Tanglefoot boasts scenic pastoral beauty that even on the driest days looks pretty.

Constructed as a result of the railroad abandonment, the trail allows you to drink in the scenery at a slower pace than the rail riders did years ago.

“The 2026 Tour de Bodock will be on Saturday, October 10. Having it in October will hopefully result in cooler weather for the riders,” said Bob McGee who heads up the event.

“Also, this works better for the Police and the folks at the Chamber since they won’t have to be covering multiple events on the same day.

Ride options include 10k (6.2 miles) 20 miles, 50k (31 miles with or without hills), and 100k (with or without hills). The hill options include loops off of the Tanglefoot Trail and the no hills options remain on the Trail.

Registration is available online at raceroster. com and at the Pontotoc Mainstreet Association

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Chamber of Commerce. Riders may also register the morning of the ride.

“This is a great opportunity to get introduced to cycling events, experience the Tanglefoot Trail with others, and meet folks from far and wide who enjoy cycling and the beautiful Tanglefoot Trail.”

Rides on the tour include a Metric Century, Half Metric Century, 20 mile and 10 K [a six mile ride].

Ride fees for the 10K is $45 and all other races are $50. This pleasure ride is not a bike race. “This is a family friendly event,” he stressed, “so you and your children can come and enjoy riding on the trail.”

Please be at the First Choice Gateway in Pontotoc in plenty of time before the race starts to get your bicycle ready. “All rides start and finish there,” said McGee. Rest stops with refreshments will be available at the Whistle Stops at Ecru, Ingomar, and Algoma and at the Gateway in Pontotoc.

Food and entertainment will be provided at the Gateway after the ride. Donnie Roy will be playing his guitar and singing.

“We will again have a long-sleeve, dri-fit t-shirt that glows in the dark. Folks seem to love them, and no other event in the region has them to my knowledge.”

“Our sponsors are critical to our success and help us to have a substantial impact on the maintenance of the Tanglefoot Trail since all net proceeds are donated to it.”

TOUR DE BODOCK SPONSORS INCLUDE: - T.G. Ferguson Co. - Tupelo Small Animal Hospital - Wheeler Roofing - Park Medical Clinic - Renasant Bank - Dr. Steve Montgomery - Linda Hale - Southern Physical & Aquatic Therapy - Mike Simon

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FUN TIMES AT BODOCK

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