Party With the Sweet Potatoes

Southern Living, Feb 2005 by Austin, Farrah

This St. Patrick's Day, strut through the streets of downtown Jackson, Mississippi, with the queens who reign supreme.

You'll see more leg than a pair of panty hose at the fourth largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the country. That's because the famed Sweet Potato Queens, decked out in gaudy green mini-gowns and bright red hair, take center stage at this three-day celebration (March 18 through 20).

Green With Envy

Held Saturday in downtown Jackson, the procession is officially dubbed Mal's St. Paddy's Parade & Festival, for founder Malcolm White, but it's the queens that everyone comes to see. Jill Conner Browne, author of The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love, and her curious court are the stars of the show aboard their fluffy float.

You'll find Jill's Wannabe queens decked out, much like the diva herself, in glitter, fake pearls, and fishnets. They don names such as the Kelp Queens of California, the Dancing Dixie Divas of Shreveport, or the Mule Queens of Columbia, Tennessee. But that trademark firebomb-colored hair is their true identifier. "The higher the hair the closer to God," says Jill. "The higher the hair the greater the tragedies. But my hair is the highest of them all."

A Real "Mal-Function"

It's with this same free spirit that Malcolm "Mal" White, a local entrepreneur, started the event in Jackson in the early eighties. "When I first had the idea, I called and asked Jill to ride in the parade," recalls Mal. "Well, she had a buddy who owned a sweet potato farm, so she told me she'd come as the Sweet Potato Queen." Her best-selling books came almost 20 years later.

Today, the number of patrons has swelled to more than 80,000. Beginning promptly at 1 p.m., the 2-mile trek pulses through North State, Capitol, and Congress Streets. A myriad of floats flutters by the crowds, but the best is saved for last. "We're like Santa Claus," says Sweet Potato Queen Tammy Donna. "We come at the end."

Once this sorority meeting of sorts ends, the gang and 80,000 of their closest friends head to Hal & Mal's Restaurant & Brewery (Mal's eatery on Commerce Street) for a party complete with brass band, dancing, and festival food. Tammy Donna sums up the spirit of the day best. "We all have troubles," she says. "You'll have those same issues tomorrow. But today is our time to play." FARRAH AUSTIN

Mal's St. Paddy's Parade & Festival: March 18-20. Call (601) 948-0888, or visit www.halandmals.com or www. sweetpotatoqueens.com.