BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) - Mississippi will showcase its creative heritage in the annual Rose Parade on New Year’s Day with a float featuring Kermit the Frog and references to the state’s literary and musical legacy.
The Visit Mississippi float, themed “Where Creativity Blooms,” includes Kermit the Frog as its centerpiece, honoring Jim Henson, the Muppets creator who was born in Mississippi.
Country music star and Mississippi native Charlie Worsham will also perform on the float during the parade.
“It’s a pretty wild thing to sit here on this float with Kermit the Frog behind us and get to represent Mississippi,” Worsham said during an interview on Good Morning Mississippi.
The float incorporates references to Mississippi’s creative contributions, including those with Gulf Coast connections such as author Jesmyn Ward, Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts, and the late musician Jimmy Buffett. Worsham said he plans to include a reference to Buffett in one of his performance songs during the parade broadcast.
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The float also includes references to the Mississippi Writers Trail and features ballerinas. A reference to “My Dog Skip” by Mississippi author Willie Morris appears on the left side of the float.
“Mississippi is home to so many creative spirits, and in so many ways Mississippi is such a creative state,” said Rochelle Hicks, director of Visit Mississippi. “We’re just excited to showcase a lot of that here on the float.”
The entire float is decorated with natural materials, as required by the Rose Parade rules. Every surface must be covered with flowers, seeds, or other organic materials. Kermit the Frog is constructed from split peas. Magnolias, Mississippi’s state flower, are also included in the design.
Coastal Mississippi is partnering with Visit Mississippi on the float. Hicks said the parade provides an opportunity to promote Mississippi tourism to a global audience and encourage visitors to plan trips to the state.
The 137th Rose Parade will be broadcast from Pasadena, California, on New Year’s Day and can be viewed on WLOX ABC at 10 a.m.
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This is the second appearance for Visit Mississippi in the Rose Parade.
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