April 12 and 13 were busy and exciting days for Prep’s Parent and Teacher Association (the “PAT”). Prep Fest, the PAT’s annual fundraising weekend, was comprised of Friday evening’s Supper Soiree and Saturday’s Revolutionary Fair featuring the Battle of the Bands. Mrs. Milicent Crosby served as this year’s Prep Fest chair.  

Supper Soiree was held Friday evening at the Westin in downtown Jackson and was an adults-only event. The night began with a cocktail hour for Prep Fest sponsors with music by the Pryor Band. Guests were able to preview eighty-four pieces of original artwork included in the first ever Revolutionary Art Drawdown. The Drawdown was the brainchild of Drawdown co-chairs Mrs. Stacy Underwood and Mrs. Allison Fisackerly. Drawdown tickets were sold for $100 each, giving each ticket holder the opportunity to go home with an original piece of art at the end of the night. Seventy-eight artists donated to the effort. 

Next, everyone enjoyed a family-style dinner prepared by Chef Nick Wallace. Throughout the dinner, each Drawdown ticket holder’s name was drawn in random order, and they then chose their favorite piece to take home. In addition to the Drawdown, two additional pieces of art and a private dinner prepared by Chef Nick Wallace were auctioned in a live auction. Prep’s own Laura Bishop was the big winner, taking home a 48”x48” William Goodman piece entitled “The Fallout.”

Saturday afternoon, despite the threat of severe weather, the Revolutionary Fair returned to the Prep campus for the first time in about twenty years. Originally intended to take place outdoors on Patriot Avenue and Patriot Way, the Revolutionary Fair was moved into the Manning Center due to storms. PAT President Adrienne Carter said, “Moving the event into the Manning Center actually made it feel very similar to the Revolutionary Fair of years past when it was in the ‘old gym.’ The space was perfect.”  

This family event had something for everyone.  Little kids enjoyed face painting with the Prep cheerleaders and games like mini golf and balloon darts. The cakewalk was a huge hit for kids of all ages including many members of the Prep faculty and staff. Delicious fair foods such as chicken-on-a-stick, hamburgers, fried Oreos, and cotton candy were on the menu. Members of Prep’s coaching staff took turns outdoors in the dunking booth until the bad weather provided a reprieve.

The highlight of the evening was the Battle of the Bands. Four bands including one student band and three alumni and parent bands rocked the stage for almost three hours. American Bloom, featuring Prep tenth graders Luke Runnels, William McHenry, Aden Powers, and Reese McKinney, opened and performed three original songs for the crowd. They were followed by Southgate, a band of 1994 Prep graduates Chan Griffin, Arthur Jones, Ricky Smith, Alex Stevens, Ed Thomas, and Matt Ulmer.

Next up was Borneo Trade, a band merged from 80’s and 90’s bands The Trade and Gone Borneo, with members Kelly Adams (class of 1993), Rush Agent (class of 1989), John Scanlon (class of 1993), and Barrett Hathcock. The grand finale was Illusion, including Prep parents Mart McMullan and Jonathan Barrett, and 1990 Prep graduates Alex Guidry and Clay Schultz. Students, parents, grandparents, and friends turned out despite the torrential downpours and tornado threats, and they were not disappointed. The Battle of the Bands was an event to remember.

The 2019 Prep Fest weekend proved to be a success for the PAT’s fundraising efforts and great fun for all who attended.  When the final numbers are in, all of the money made will go directly to fulfill teachers’ wish lists and fund the faculty endowment, making Jackson Prep an even greater place for students and teachers.