No Sun Needed at 15th Annual Mudbug Bash

Palmer Home for Children hosted the 15th Annual Mudbug Bash on Saturday night in Hernando, Miss. Despite the rain, hundreds of people came for a good time and a good cause.

There was no shortage of crawfish — for the 14th year in a row, Memphis Crawfish Company provided 4,000 pounds of crawfish for the evening. When guests arrived at 6 p.m. crawfish, potatoes, and corn were being served by the pound. In addition to crawfish, multiple food vendors from around Hernando provided different options as well – including other crawfish-centric foods.

This year, Palmer Home was blessed to have 73 sponsors come alongside them to support their mission. These sponsors ranged from food and beverage sponsors to in-kind sponsorships. Whatever their title may be, each sponsor contributed greatly to the success of this event.

“Each year we are overwhelmed by the amount of support we receive from our sponsors, and this year was no exception,” said Kristin Budzak, Manager of Community Development & Engagement at Palmer Home. “We were excited to see so many attendees in spite of the stormy weather.”

Kevin MaC Band was a highlight of the evening – keeping the dance floor packed the majority of the night. He took special requests from guests and performed everything from Backstreet Boys to Johnny Cash, entertaining everyone.

Through Mudbug, Palmer Home raised more than $115,000. Each year, the event helps Palmer Home raise the necessary funds to provide for the children in their care, while also offering the opportunity to give back to the community and thank sponsors who faithfully support the organization. In 2018, Mudbug Bash was voted DeSoto’s Best Charity Event, making it one of the most celebrated regional events of the year. This year, more than 800 guests filled Panola Street, proving that Mudbug Bash is worth attending – even in pouring rain.

“It takes support from the community to make our mission succeed,” said Budzak. “By coming out and supporting this event, you made an investment in the lives of these children—and it is such a fun event to attend. Our volunteers worked hard to make this event the best yet. It was a great time!”