Troy is getting in the gameday spirit, and that’s a good think.

This Saturday, Downtown Troy merchants are kicking off a new gameday experience by hosting a tailgate party on the Square. In addition to musical entertainment and events, merchants are offering specials in their stores, free partking and a shuttle to local hotes and Veterans Memroial Stadium.

The event, coordinated by the PIke County Chamber of Commerce and the Dowtown Troy Association, is an excellent way to draw the thousands of gameday visitors to our local Square and businesses. And that’s an important way to grow our economy. Efforts such as this one, and the work of the Brundidge Business Association and Brundidge merchants to create arts and entertainment events there, are important to the growth and viability of our community. We have long said that downtown is the heart of a community, and whether you’re talking about Troy or Brundidge both beat strong thanks to creative efforts of folks committed to their hometowns.

So this Saturday, we encourage new visitors and veteran Trojan fans alike to head to the Downtown Square to enjoy some shopping, music and entertainment before heading over to cheer on the Trojans as they host the Mississippi State Bulldogs.