Parade

The SWEET POTATO QUEENS’ WEEKEND and HAL’S ST. PADDY’S PARADE – 2025

The SPQ Weekend is March 19-23 and the PARADE is on Saturday, March 22.

The THEME for Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival this year is: HEY, HEY, THE BLUES IS ALL GREEN! 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.

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! Thirsty Thursday starts with LUNCH AT Crazy Cat Eat Up, as usual! 11-2 Just come on down when you’re hungry & remember our Hilton Queen Kathy McGinnis Proctor is happy to transport you to & fro!

***Thursday Night – About dark:30, Spud Stud Tommy Burroughs will crank up ALL his Equipment & bring us THE 80’s—dress accordingly! Heavy on the AquaNet!

***Friday,11:00-1:00, FRIDAY is BIG HAT BRUNCH at DRAGOS—Spud Stud Scott Caples will be passing judgment & awarding the Hats That Please Him Most!

***Friday night, 7-11pm, dancing to FAZE 4–& it’ll be MRS. ROPER NIGHT!

***Saturday, 1pm, PARADE ROLLS in Downtown Jackson, 3/22 IS Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival!! The Grand Marshal is world-renowned MS BLUESMAN JESSE ROBINSON & the theme is a play off the 1920’s blues anthem “Hey! Hey! The Blues Is Alright”—only it’s HEY! HEY! THE BLUES IS ALL GREEN…  NO MATTER WHAT ELSE YOU WEAR or not—COMFY SHOES—WEAR COMFY SHOES!

***Saturday night, 7-11pm, more frolicking with FAZE 4 & it’s PJ’S & PEARLS. The BIG AISS CROWN RAFFLE will conclude at 9pm—REMEMBER YOU MUST BE IN THE ROOM & WILDLY ENTHUSIASTIC to win! All $$ to Friends of Children’s Hospital!

***Sunday morning, BATHROBE BRUNCH—doors open at 8:30–everything kicks off at 9 & I am CRABBY IF YOU’RE LATE!

***Sunday afternoon—Poolside Gossip, at your own risk!

BILLIE BURNS AT OUR HILTON IS READY TO RECEIVE YOUR ROOM REQUESTS!! Here’s the info—must I say how important it is that you READ IT ALL?!

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. EMAIL IS PREFERRED. BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR PHONE # in message or email! ***

***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 20, 2025 Thirsty Thursday starts with LUNCH AT Crazy Cat Eat Up, as usual! 11-2 Just come on down when you’re hungry & remember our Hilton Queen Kathy McGinnis Proctor is happy to transport you to & fro! About dark:30, Spud Stud Tommy Burroughs will crank up ALL his Equipment & bring us THE 80’s—dress accordingly! Heavy on the AquaNet!
FRIDAY – March 21, 2025 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 Caples will be passing judgment & awarding the Hats That Please Him Most! FRIDAY NIGHT (7p-11p) Daincin’ in FITZGERALD’S with Faze4! Dancing to FAZE 4–& it’ll be MRS. ROPER NIGHT!
SATURDAY – March 22, 2025 Hal’s St. Paddy’s PARADE 1:00p Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival!! The Grand Marshal is world-renowned MS BLUESMAN JESSE ROBINSON & the theme is a play off the 1920’s blues anthem “Hey! Hey! The Blues Is Alright”—only it’s HEY! HEY! THE BLUES IS ALL GREEN… 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—

The BIG AISS CROWN RAFFLE will conclude at 9pm—REMEMBER YOU MUST BE IN THE ROOM & WILDLY ENTHUSIASTIC to win! All $$ to Friends of Children’s Hospital!


SUNDAY – March 23, 2025 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. Everything kicks off at 9 & I am CRABBY IF YOU’RE LATE! REHASH & GOSSIP Poolside – Afternoon until ? Do so at your own risk!
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