Are You Ready For 731 Day?
Written By Maddie Steele
731 Day was created 6 years ago to celebrate the city of Jackson by giving local businesses the opportunity for involvement and giving the community a sense of gratitude and love for the things that make Jackson a unique place to call home.
This year, the day will be filled with different businesses offering deals, hosting events and being involved in a variety of ways, and it will be followed by the grand finale of Porchfest. With 11 total artists, this year’s lineup is either completely new artists, or artists who have only performed once before. Porchfest is the culmination of the day and will take place in the Midtown neighborhood, where the streets will be closed down and food trucks will line the roads, while children ride their bikes and eat ice cream in the midst of their community. You don’t want to miss this communal, warm atmosphere.
“731 Day was something that was started by Our Jackson Home, but is now a community effort,” said Courtney Searcy, Editor-in-Chief of Our Jackson Home and the Program Director. “Small businesses and people who are participating in this day are the people who have poured their hearts and souls, and their savings accounts, into creating special things for our community, so I think having a day to really support and appreciate those people is really important.”
Porchfest allows us to realize the unique things that make this place feel like home and it takes everyone’s involvement to make this day happen. This day is a reminder that you can create the things you want to see in your community. 731 Day has created a community that builds on itself every year, and this year people are very hungry to create these experiences that we long for in this post-pandemic life.
“I think that feeling of being connected to your place and feeling gratitude for the place that you live and the people around you is really powerful,” Courtney said.
The lineup for Porchfest will include Avon Park, Emily Mcgill, Ajed, Alone Jones, Cliff Jksn, Music by Kota, Anne Freeman, Hub City Mass Choir, Carita Cole, and Erin Elle.’ This year we will be hosting all the stages around the block of Campbell Lake, so come out and enjoy these artists at Porchfest from 2-9pm!
You can go to 731day.com to tell us about how your business will be involved, or you can be a Porchfest sponsor, or you can just show up and support the businesses that are participating.