By Sue Moore
The Taste of Vicksburg organizing committee has brought back by popular demand its headliner band from last year, Hair Mania. “Their music was great and they have a big following,” said Mandy Miller, the Chamber of Commerce’s event coordinator. “Plus, two of their band members are local Vicksburg boys who have made good,” Miller said.
Jim Halladay is the lead singer from Vicksburg and Paxton Olney, the bass guitarist, lives at Long Lake. They will play from 7 to 11 p.m. on a stage at the corner of Main and Prairie Streets in downtown Vicksburg. The Taste of Vicksburg opens for food vendors from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 13 with Jaspare’s Pizza and Vickers planning to serve food until closing time.
Hair Mania plays music from the 80s and are great entertainers as well, sporting long hair or wigs as part of their attire. They even bring their own band of followers from the many places they have played across Michigan. That includes Halladay’s mom, Susane and wife Chris, who are granted front row seats while most others in the audience like to stand and move with the music.
The Chamber has been serving up the Taste of Vicksburg for eight years to bring people into the community on a warm summer evening. In 2018 they sold more beer than ever before even though the event is not viewed as a fundraiser. Miller Lite, Miller High Life and Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy will be served in the beer tent located on S. Main Street. Vickers, Jaspare’s, Main Street Pub and the Hide-A-Way are some participating food vendors.
There will be three entrances to the roped-off area downtown at the corner of Washington and S. Main Street and on each end of east and west Prairie Streets in order to cut down on the waiting in line time for guests, according to Miller. Parking is available in back of the S. Main street stores and on both ends of Prairie Street.