Eat your heart out, Jolene; Bay St. Louis belongs to Dolly Parton.
Old Town is gearing up for the eighth annual Dolly Should event on Jan. 11 — a tribute to the legendary singer, songwriter and actress, whose birthday falls on Jan. 19. Whitney LaFrance. operations and marketing manager for the Mockingbird Café, says attendees should expect lots of glitter, sequins, hairspray and lipstick.
“The atmosphere is Dolly Should is one big party!” LaFrance exclaims. “That’s the whole point, to throw Dolly a Bay Saint Louis birthday party!”
The purpose of the event is right there in the name, she adds: “Dolly Should come celebrate her birthday with us!”
Although Dolly herself has not yet made an appearance, the event draws plenty of big-haired, bedazzled doppelgangers. Fans fill the streets in their most vibrant, glamorous attire, many mimicking the icon’s signature blond bouffant.
Ann Madden and Sandy Maggio created the event to celebrate Dolly, and in 2022, Maggio passed the torch (and the glitter) to Mockingbird Cafe.
“We are so happy to be able to keep the party going for Dolly and for Old Town Bay St. Louis,” LaFrance says. “Each year, Dolly Should draws in hundreds of Dolly-lovin’ folks from all over the area.”
Every year, she adds, more and more Old Town businesses join in the fun and offer Dolly-themed specials, activities and merchandise. The New Orleans-based Krewe of Dolly has even attended Dolly Should in the past and performed a live dance number.
“People come from as far as Hattiesburg to celebrate Dolly in Old Town Bay Saint Louis,” according to LaFrance.
The festivities kick off with a children’s book drive, in honor of Dolly’s literacy initiative, which runs from Jan. 1-11 throughout the shops of Old Town. Other highlights include local artist Andrew Switzer, who will be doing a live painting of Dolly Parton starting around 4 p.m. on event day, and a highest hair contest, hosted by The Shops at Century Hall, which begins at 5 p.m. The Dolly Look-Alike contest, a crowd favorite, starts at 7 p.m. on the front porch of Mockingbird Café and will feature DJ Doug Funnie.
While Dolly Should is free to attend, the look-alike Contest has a $10 entry fee that is donated to charity. This year’s recipient is King’s Kitchen, a local free food program in Hancock County.
The best way to keep up with the schedule, LaFrance says, is through the Dolly Should Facebook event page. While fans can register for the look-alike contest on the day of, they also can register in advance online starting Jan. 1.
Whether you’re a lifelong Dolly fan or just looking for a reason to wear rhinestone-encrusted cowboy boots, LaFrance says this is one celebration you don’t want to miss. “Bring it!” she advises anyone planning to attend. “These Dollys don’t hold back on the sparkle or the hairspray!”
IF YOU GO:
Eighth-annual Dolly Should
Jan. 11, Old Town Bay St. Louis
Schedule of activities:
- Children’s Book Drive: Jan. 1-12 throughout the shops of Old Town Bay St. Louis
- Dolly specials and shopping all day during Dolly Should at the shops of Old Town Bay St. Louis
- Dolly Beauty Shoppe, noon-6 p.m. at Second Street Boutique
- Live Dolly painting by Andrew Switzer, 4 p.m. on South Second Street
- Live music by Sweetie, 4-7 p.m. on Mockingbird Café main stage
- Highest hair contest, 5 p.m. at The Shops at Century Hall
- Dolly Look-Alike Contest, 7 p.m. at Mockingbird Café with DJ Doug Funnie