The SWEET POTATO QUEENS’ WEEKEND and HAL’S ST. PADDY’S PARADE – 2024
The SPQ Weekend is March 20-24 and the PARADE is on Saturday, March 23.
The THEME for Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival this year is:
TELLING THE MISSISSIPPI STORY
Be assured though that as QUEENS, there is no burden whatsoever on YOU to adhere to any guidelines beyond decency: we are about SPARKLES. Don’t stressorcize yourself—ACCESSORIZE YOURSELF. I will tell you this: for the SPQs, OUR favorite MISSISSIPPI STORIES are ELVIS & US and we plan to convey that in our adornments. Feel free to adopt either or both or neither—BE THE QUEEN OF WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE.
The HOST HOTEL, as always, is the HILTON-JACKSON. For the SPECIFIC PROCEDURES, click on the HOTEL tab at the top of this page.
QUEENCENTRIC DEE-TAILS
IF YOU ARE A PARADE VIRGIN—feel free to stop anybody that looks like they’ve Done This Before (it will be apparent) and ask them anything—there are no stupid questions—a lot of stupid answers but they will be fun! EVERY QUEENS’ JOB for the duration is to be sure EVERY OTHER QUEEN IS HAVING FUN and “BELONGING.” You are REQUIRED to HAVE FUN and MAKE AT LEAST ONE NEW FRIEND over the weekend. I will ask you about it on Sunday morning and I expect a BIG YES on both counts.
The HILTON has served us faithfully forever and THEY LOVE US—they will go out of their way for you and the whole staff really gets in the spirit of it all. TIP WELL—it’s been a tough year already!
***Wednesday, arrive, set up ironing board bars in rooms, squeal a lot
***Thirsty Thursday, DECORATE YOUR DOORS, the Hilton has PRIZES!
***Friday,11:00-1:00, BIG HAT BRUNCH at DRAGO’S, order your preference from the menu, Spud Stud Scott will judge you, on sooo many levels, but he does give PRIZES for HATS.
***Friday night, 7-11pm, SPQ SOCK HOP with FAZE 4—again, suit yourself: SPQ-ish, ELVIS-ish, COMBO, or whatever—wear a poodle skirt and bobby socks, fine by me
***Saturday, 1pm, PARADE ROLLS in Downtown Jackson, SWEET POTATO QUEENS’ FLOAT IS SPONSORED BY CADENCE BANK—do bidness with them whenever you get the chance! NO MATTER WHAT ELSE YOU WEAR or not—COMFY SHOES—WEAR COMFY SHOES!
***Saturday night, 7-11pm, PEARLS & PJs with FAZE 4—yes, everybody has on jammies and joory
***Saturday night, 10pm, BIG AISS CROWN GIVEAWAY—Handcrafted crown by the renowned jeweler of Broadway and the MET, Larry Vrba—all proceeds to Children’s of Mississippi—TICKETS SOLD DURING SOCK HOP—DRAWING IS AT 10 PM—YOU MUST BE IN THE ROOM AND YOU MUST BE WILDLY ENTHUSIASTIC TO WIN—nobody likes an ABSENT nor a BORING winner—neither will be tolerated. BIG AISS CROWN RAFFLE SPONSORED BY ATMOS ENERGY. We thank them for HEPPIN’ US HEP THE CHIRREN!
***Sunday morning, BATHROBE BRUNCH, yes, everybody has on a bathrobe. DOORS OPEN AT 8:30am—GET YORE AISS UP and come on down. Brenda’s Shrimp & Grits are worth it.
***Sunday afternoon—Poolside Gossip, at your own risk!
The Hilton-Jackson Hotel
IMPORTANT INFO FOR HILTON RESERVATIONS FOR PARADE WEEKEND! PARADE VIRGINS–DO NOT PANIC–THIS IS HOW IT IS DONE AND IT DOES WORK.
***Our Host Hotel is the Hilton-Jackson on County Line Road. To make a reservation: Call 601-957-2800 & speak ONLY to BILLIE BURNS. DO NOT SAY “reservation” until you are speaking to him. If he is unavailable, leave a message & he will return the call. You may also email him at billie.burns@hilton.com.***
***So far as we are aware, Billie has NEVER YET FAILED to secure a reservation for a Queen–he does not intend to start now. But he must handle Us in an organized manner and this requires concentration and diligence–so he dedicates several weekends every Parade season to US AND ONLY US. If you feel you need my personal reassurance that you will, in fact, ultimately hear from Billie that you do, in fact, have a reservation for Parade Weekend, by all means, reach out. I will personally copy and paste this paragraph directly to you.
Queencentric Schedule of Events
THURSDAY – March 21, 2024
Thirsty Thursday, DECORATE YOUR DOORS, the Hilton has PRIZES!
FRIDAY – March 22, 2024
Big Hat Brunch on Friday at Drago’s – no ticket needed – order whatever you want, eat it, love it & pay for it. The menu is extensive – you can spend as much or as little as you choose. No minimum charge. Spud Stud Scott will judge you–on soooo many levels–but he does give PRIZES for HATS!
FRIDAY NIGHT (7p-11p)
Daincin’ in FITZGERALD’S with Faze4!
SPQ SOCK HOP. Suit yourself: SPQ-ish, ELVIS-ish, COMBO, or whatever–wear a poodle skirt and bobby socks, fine by me.
SATURDAY – March 23, 2024
Hal’s St. Paddy’s PARADE
1:00p Parade Rolls in Downtown Jackson. Sweet Potato Queens’ float is sponsored by CADENCE BANK; so, do bidness with them whenever you get the chance!
NOTE: NO MATTER WHAT ELSE YOU WEAR or not…COMFY SHOES–wear COMFY SHOES!
SATURDAY NIGHT (7p-11p)
PEARLS & PJS in Fitzgerald’s with FAZE 4! And YES, everybody has on jammies and joory!
SATURDAY NIGHT (10:00p)
BIG AISS CROWN GIVEAWAY—Handcrafted crown by the renowned jeweler of Broadway and the MET, Larry Vrba—ALL proceeds to Children’s of Mississippi—
TICKETS SOLD DURING SOCK HOP—DRAWING IS AT 10 PM—YOU MUST BE IN THE ROOM AND YOU MUST BE WILDLY ENTHUSIASTIC TO WIN—nobody likes an ABSENT nor a BORING winner—neither will be tolerated.
BIG AISS CROWN RAFFLE SPONSORED BY ATMOS ENERGY. We thank them for HEPPIN’ US HEP THE CHIRREN!
SUNDAY – March 24, 2023
BATHROBE BRUNCH at Hilton-Jackson. Buy ticket when you check in. Yes, everybody has on a bathrobe.
DOORS OPEN AT 8:30am—GET YORE AISS UP and come on down. Brenda’s Shrimp & Grits are worth it.
REHASH & GOSSIP Poolside – Afternoon until ? Do so at your own risk!