There are plenty of sporting events around Mississippi this weekend. Football is starting to creep back onto the calendar, gyms are beginning to fill up again and before long, Friday nights across the state will belong to high school football.
But if you’re looking for something a little different this Saturday, head down to Mobile Street in Downtown Hattiesburg.
You could honestly make an entire day out of it. Start the morning digging through antiques, sports memorabilia, old signs and just about anything else imaginable at The Lucky Rabbit, one of those places where you can walk in planning to spend 20 minutes and somehow come out two hours later.
Then just walk across the street. At The Ruins, there won’t be any helmets, shoulder pads or umpires waiting on you. Just two boards, a handful of bags and, more than likely, plenty of trash talk.
That’s where the second annual Bags & Badges Cornhole Tournament will take over Mobile Street Saturday, bringing local law enforcement, first responders and members of the community together for a little competition while raising money for a good cause.
And that’s exactly the kind of event we’re looking for with the Magnolia Coast Sports Hidden Event of the Week.
It’s probably not something you’d plan an entire weekend around. You might not even know it’s happening unless you go looking for it. But pair it with a morning at The Lucky Rabbit, grab some lunch downtown afterward and suddenly you’ve got a pretty good Saturday in Hattiesburg, with a cornhole tournament right in the middle of it.
The tournament gets underway Saturday, August 15, at 10 a.m. at The Ruins, 207 Mobile Street in Downtown Hattiesburg.
If you’ve never been to The Ruins, the name pretty much tells the story.
The outdoor event space sits among the remains of an old downtown building, with exposed brick walls and portions of the original structure creating a setting that feels completely different from your typical park, gym or event venue. Instead of tearing everything down and starting over, the space uses what’s left of the building as part of its character.
And with The Lucky Rabbit sitting just across Mobile Street, this little corner of downtown has become a pretty interesting place to spend a Saturday.
This isn’t just a few people getting together and tossing bags in the backyard, either. The field is limited to 30 teams, with teams competing in a double-elimination tournament. Registration is $100 per team, and there is some money, and bragging rights, waiting at the end.
First place takes home $200, second receives $150 and third gets $100.
Don’t feel like playing? That’s perfectly fine.
Spectators can get in for just $2, making this one of the cheaper sporting events you’ll find anywhere in the state this weekend. There will also be music, concessions, raffles and other activities throughout the event.
The inaugural tournament was held last August and brought together representatives from the Hattiesburg Police Department, Hattiesburg Fire Department, Forrest County Sheriff’s Office, the 12th Circuit District Attorney’s Office and Hattiesburg city administration.
Team Farris ultimately walked away as the inaugural champions, with Sanford and Son finishing second. More importantly, the turnout was strong enough that organizers hoped the tournament could become an annual event.
One year later, they’re doing it again.
It’s not something that’s going to have 30,000 people sitting in the stands. ESPN isn’t showing up. There aren’t going to be television timeouts. But there’s competition, there’s a crowd, there’s a trophy, or at least prize money, waiting at the end, and there’s a reason behind all of it.
Every bag that hits the board Saturday helps support the Hattiesburg Police Department Benefit Fund, which assists officers during difficult moments in their lives.
That can mean helping when an officer experiences a death in the family, recognizing someone upon retirement or providing other assistance when officers and their families need it.
Officer David Matos gave a personal example to WDAM this week, recalling how the fund sent flowers when his mother died in Florida several years ago.
It’s a small gesture until you’re the person receiving it.
And that’s ultimately what Saturday’s tournament is about.
You can look at a weekend calendar and immediately find the big stuff. Football games, concerts, festivals and whatever else has the biggest advertising budget usually finds you.
Events like Bags & Badges require a little more digging. And sometimes those are the ones worth checking out.
It’s inexpensive. It’s local. It’s competitive. It’s outdoors in Downtown Hattiesburg. And you can spend part of your Saturday watching police officers, firefighters and people from around the community find out who actually has the best cornhole game.
That’s enough to earn the Magnolia Coast Sports Hidden Event of the Week.
About The Author
