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A national spotlight is about to hit the Tenn-Tom Waterway, and we’re ready. Tourism director Frances Glenn joins us to share how Bassmaster Elite is setting up at the Columbus Marina with 101 pros, live cameras, and a weekend atmosphere that turns attention into spending. We dig into why “free” events fuel hotels, restaurants, and gas pumps, and how a stacked slate of fishing tournaments can make the river more than scenery—it becomes a steady economic engine.

Then we zoom out to long-term bets. The amphitheater only works if it’s truly finished: seating, restrooms, concessions, and a professional promoter who can route artists through a 3,500-seat venue that draws from Memphis, Birmingham, Jackson, and Tupelo. We talk realistic timelines, booking strategy, and the kind of opening night that builds a habit of showing up. Culture gets equal billing as Spring Pilgrimage unifies under one umbrella for the second year with 18 homes and simple online ticketing, while new historic markers strengthen the African American Cultural Trail and preserve stories at risk of fading.