Heard it on the river: Big-name event flood upcoming Tunica calendar

Traffic is reportedly down a bit in TUNICA TOWNE but you would never know it with the host of attention-getting events taking place there over the next several weeks. The professionals say it is better to advertise in down times rather than slash and burn the promo budget and we totally agree. If the customers don't know what's going on, how are they coming?

Let's start off with the big event of the week, the end of GRAND CASINO and the 'beginning' of HARRAH'S in the same grand edifice, with a few changes, like $45 million worth of new stuff and renovations up the wazoo.

It gets underway officially at 1 p.m. tomorrow (Fri. May 23) at the main entrance with big names sprinkled in along with a bevy of beauties from HAWAIIAN TROPIC models who will party with guests to celebrate the grand opening weekend. Do I qualify as a guest. Absolutely! The celebs include the one and only First Lady of Food, a Southern beauty in her own right, the lovely PAULA DEEN who will be showing off her new and terrific Paula Deen Buffet that will make folks hereabouts very happy with lot of southern-friend cuisine. Paula will do her thang at the "Personally Paula" show on Sunday at 2 and 5 p.m. but if you want to get in, get your tickets now online at TICKETMASTER or call 901-525-1515. My son, MICHAEL, now a graveyard pit guy at HORSESHOE, is a big fan of Paula and is looking forward to some shrimp and grits. He sez she is the very best and catches her TV show when he is not watching for card counters or handing out comps at the 'Shoe.'

On Saturday night the bad boys of rock and blues, ZZ TOP, will hit the boards at the event center at 9:30. Oh yes, everyone who attends gets a string of lucky beads. Is that all? No it's not. The gift is just a part of the $100,000 Celebration promotion and all will be instant winners for a slew of items such as Paula gifts, free buffets and dinners, trips, show tickets, cash prizes up to $50,000, and more. Be there! Check out the trendy new bar at the entry, SPHERE and '37, formerly LB'S. It is not just as good as LB's, but better.

The FITZ is jumping into the promo fray for the hearts and wallets of visitors as well with FIGHTS AT THE FITZ. On Saturday night, May 24 it takes place in a unique outdoor setting behind the casino on the banks of the Mississippi River. As you may know, The Fitz is the only casino with a fantastic Riverview. Take in the action and the sunset at the same time. On Saturday May 31, hot country star, BLAKE SHELTON, takes the stage and closing out the run on June 6-8, ADOLPH LEPRE and his crew stage the $75,000 "Win Your Table" blackjack tournament weekend. You can get fight and show tickets at the casino gift shop or Ticketmaster.

SAM'S TOWN is taking a tough combative approach to all the festivities and on May 29, kicks of three days of one great attraction, the TOUGHMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP in the River Palace Entertainment Center. If you have never witnessed this type of free-for-all mayhem, this is a must. Thirty-six light heavyweight battlers and another 29 heavyweight "local champions," will brawl it out to see who is left standing on the final night, May 31 with $20,000 winner- takes-all prizes to the champs in both divisions. You'll see the likes of "The Sandman," "Bad Boy," "Polish Assassin," "Lawdawg," and "Downtown Brown." Having seen one of these events a long time ago inTunica, I can only say that I wrote then it was the best single night of entertainment ever staged there up to that time. This war should be better. Ticketmaster or at the Atrium box office.

PAULA DEEN buffet giveaway only on the GOODTIMES RADIO SHOW on Saturday morning between 8:30-10:30 on COUNTRY LEGENDS WMC79 A.M. Save this number for a chance to win some vouchers…901-274-7979. Sam's Town's MARK MCRINDLE, tell us that he is holding a keno tournament on June 9-11. It takes a $500 buy-in and is always well-attended.

Down south, at PEARL RIVER RESORTS, where the Geyser Falls waterpark is soon to open, take in the great DANCING RABBIT GOLF CLUB. You can now stay in a hotel room adjacent to the course just across the parking lot. The newly constructed HILTON GARDEN INN CHOCTAW is in full operation, just making this classy resort even more of the great destination. MIKO DENSON (the Chief) and his team continue to make this fine resort a must see for gamblers and families alike. Also, at the Resort, congrats to JASON YORK who has been promoted to executive director of marketing. With so many amenities outside his office door, he is one busy guy.

Another Tunica hot spot is the fast rising home/condo development taking place at TUNICA NATIONAL COMMUNITIES. They just held a grand opening party for the very successful SOLEIL clutch of condos that was attended by members of the County Board of Supervisors and DON KESSINGER, he of Chicago Cub fame who also happens to be the builder along with his son. CODY HARRELL, a co-owner, tells us that Soleil is now running a HOLE IN ONE EVENT. To enter you need to register at the Soleil model home up until June 23rd and on June 26 at 5 p.m. there will be a drawing for registrants at the Tunica National Golf club just up the road. Ten names will be selected for a shot at a hole in one on the a par 3 and if somebody lucks out they win a fully furnished condo worth $200,000, according to Cody. Neat idea and a surefire traffic generator. Not standing still, Cody also reports that five homes are about to start in the new Gallery Walk section. Four of them have been pre-sold. Real estate blues…not at Tunica National Community.

LAISSEZ LE BON TEMPS ROULER.