Fall may have just gotten underway, but that’s no reason not to head to the beach this weekend. Just an hour away, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (October 25-27), downtown Bay St. Louis, Mississippi will play host to the seventh annual Bay BridgeFest. Familiar faces at the three-stage, 20-band fest include Dumpstaphunk, the Revivalists, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Terrance Simien, the Honey Island Swamp Band, the Young Pinstripe Brass Band, Johnny Sansone, Amanda Shaw, and the Cedric Burnside Project among others.

Dumpstaphunk will headline Bay BridgeFest on Saturday, October 26, 2013 (Photo: Michael Weintrob)

Friday night, southern Mississippi act the Relative Unknowns will kick things off with free patron party atop the city’s parking garage. The rooftop party will also serve as a pre-race soiree for the following morning’s 5K run/walk. The Bay BridgeFest 5K will start at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. Early registration for the race is $25 and $35 on race day. To register early visit www.hancockchamber.com. Race day registration will take place at 8:00 a.m. Registration is free for children 10 years old and younger.

As for the festival itself, admission is $6/day and free for children 12 years old and younger. Tickets are available at the festival gates or online at www.baybridgefest.org. The music begins each afternoon around noon. Dumpstaphunk headlines Saturday’s action and the Revivalists will shut things down on Sunday. View the complete lineup and schedule online. Admission to art booths and exhibits and the Silver Slipper Food Village is free.