America's living home of hill country fife & drum — a 76-year Labor Day tradition hosted by The Rising Stars Fife & Drum Band.
Around 1950, hill country farmer and cane-fife master Otha Turner began hosting a Labor Day picnic for his neighbors near Gravel Springs, Mississippi — butchering a goat, cooking it in an iron kettle, and letting his fife and drum band play until the crowd danced into the night.
What started as a family gathering grew into an international pilgrimage. Turner earned the National Heritage Fellowship and a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail. Today his granddaughter, Sharde Thomas-Mallory, and Chris Mallory carry the tradition forward through The Rising Stars.
The picnic remains free and family-friendly, powered by volunteer musicians and the community — exactly as Otha intended.
A photographic history — from Otha Turner's farm to the modern G.O.A.T. Picnic.
The King of the Chitlin' Circuit and a three-time Grammy winner, blues legend Bobby Rush headlines the 76th G.O.A.T. Picnic — a marquee draw bringing regional and national blues fans to Coldwater, alongside The Rising Stars and a rotating cast of Hill Country greats.
Sponsorship keeps this free, family-friendly celebration alive and puts your brand at the center of one of America's most storied cultural traditions. Tiers below are a starting point; we'll gladly build a custom package around your goals.
In-kind sponsorships (food, beverage, print, media, hospitality) and custom activations are welcome — let's find the right fit.
Proud past & present partners of the G.O.A.T. Picnic:
If you joined us at the Picnic, we'd love to hear from you. Your answers help us document the event, support grant and sponsor reporting, and keep the Rising Stars' fife & drum tradition alive. It takes about two minutes and only your ZIP code is required.
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Join us in Coldwater for the 76th G.O.A.T. Picnic. Reach out to build your sponsorship or partnership.