Today
Blessing of the Animals — Bring your pet (or stuffed animal or photo of your pet) to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Courtyard, 318 College St., Columbus, at 3 p.m. for a Blessing of the Animals. Donations of supplies or cash for the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society are welcome. The event is sponsored by St. Paul’s, First Presbyterian Church and Wesley United Methodist Church.
Monday, Oct. 6
Hazard Lecture Series — The Hazard Lecture Series presents “The Voyage of the Artist: Celebrating Heritage Academy’s 50th Anniversary in Music and Song” at 7 p.m. in the Heritage elementary school auditorium, 623 Willowbrook Road, Columbus. The Columbus Girlchoir, MUW choir and Heritage alumna Megill Imes are musical guests. For more information, contact Beth Lucas, 662-327-1556.
“Our Town” auditions — Columbus Community Theatre auditions for “Our Town” are Oct. 6, 7, 20, 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main St. Performance dates are March 2-8, 2015. Roles are for male and female, age 12 to adult. Contact the Columbus Arts Council, 662-328-2787 or email [email protected].
World War I symposium — Mississippi University for Women presents “Technology and the Trenches: Solving the Riddle of Attack on the Western Front,” by Dr. Andrew Wiest of the University of Southern Mississippi at 5:30 p.m. in Parkinson Hall, room 117, on campus. The talk is free to the public.
Tuesday, Oct. 7
Jazz at Renasant — The Starkville Symphony Orchestra Big Band presents a free outdoor concert of jazz at 6 p.m. in the Renasant Bank plaza at the intersection of East Lampkin and South Montgomery streets, Starkville. Limited seating available. Feel free to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnics. For more information, contact Michael Brown, 662-325-3070.
Friday, Oct. 10
Sacred Harp movie — In advance of the First Memorial Sacred Harp Singing in Columbus in November, the Columbus Arts Council screens “Awake My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp” at 6:30 p.m. at the Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main St. Sacred Harp singer Bobby Neymon of Hernando will be on hand for Q&A about the historical song form and the upcoming Singing. Please bring canned goods for Helping Hands. For information, contact the CAC, 662-328-2787.
Pumpkinpalooza — Visit the pumpkin patch, go trick or treating, stop by the farmers’ market and cheer at the Bulldog pep rally during Pumpkinpalooza in downtown Starkville from 6-8 p.m.
Book signing — Author and former Golden Triangle journalist Annie Oeth signs copies of her book “Because I Said So: Life in the Mom Zone” from 3-5 p.m. at The Book Mart, 120 E. Main St., in Starkville.
Sunday, Oct. 12
Walk to End Alzheimer’s — Registration for this walk at the East Mississippi Community College Golden Triangle campus begins at 2 p.m. A ceremony at 2:30 p.m. is followed by the walk at 3 p.m. For more information, contact event chair Cindy Brown at [email protected], or sign up at alz.org/walk or 800-272-3900.
Tuesday, Oct. 14
Tops in Blue — The U.S. Air Force’s musical entertainment showcase begins at 6:30 p.m. at Mississippi University for Women’s Rent Auditorium. Doors open at 5:50 p.m. Admission is free to the public.
Chamber Orchestra Kremlin — The Mississippi State Lyceum Series presents one of Russia’s leading ensembles at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium on the MSU campus. Tickets are $25 ($20 for seniors 65+, MSU faculty and staff; $12 for children 3-12). MSU students free with ID. For more information, contact the Lyceum office, 662-325-2930 or visit lyceum.msstae.edu.
Thursday, Oct. 16
Dan Penn in concert — Alabama Music Hall of Fame songwriter/singer/producer Dan Penn will perform with Bobby Emmons at the City Auditorium in Vernon, Alabama, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10, available at Vernon City Hall, WJEC or Town & Country Clothing in Vernon. Or contact Ed McNees, 205-344-1822.
Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 16-18
“Lysistrata” — The Mississippi University for Women Department of Theatre presents this ancient Greek comedy by Aristophanes (a new translation by Nicholas Rudall) at 7:30 p.m. in Cromwell Theatre on the W campus. Viewer discretion is advised due to strong language and mature themes. Tickets are $10; $5 for students. For more information, call 662-329-7354.
Friday, Oct. 17
Oktoberfest — Bring the family to Shattuck Lawn on the Mississippi University for Women campus from 5-8 p.m. for games and activities including bumper cars, costume contests for children 10 and under at 6 p.m., music by the Masker Washboard Band and more. Activity tickets are 25 cents each. Oktoberfest is sponsored by the MUW Student Programming Board and is open to the community.
Chilifest, Cowboy Mouth — Junior Auxiliary of Starkville presents this chili cook-off featuring music by Cowboy Mouth at the Mississippi Amphitheater from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Enjoy tastings, a fun run, inflatables and more. Tickets are $7, available from JA members or at the event.
Friday and Saturday,
Oct. 17-18
Caledonia Days — X Factor 2012 winner Tate Stevens headlines a Caledonia Days kickoff Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. in Ola J. Pickett Park. Alan Sibley and the Magnolia Ramblers open. Enjoy craft and food vendors, pet parade, hay ride, car show and local musicians all day Oct. 18. For information, call 662-356-4117 or 662-574-3744.
Roast-N-Boast — This barbecue competition at the Columbus Fairgrounds features American Idol Top 10 finalist Dexter Roberts of Fayette, Alabama, pig races, car demolitions, horse pulls, Keith and Margie, Charlie Burgin, Ian Faith and Trademark. For information, contact Mike Law, 662-549-5054 or [email protected].
Bukka White Blues Festival — Aberdeen’s annual festival on the banks of the Tenn-Tom features Jimbo Mathus, Homemade Jamz, Lightnin’ Malcolm, a Ribs on the River cookoff, arts and crafts vendors and children’s activities. For more information, visit bukkawhitefestival.com or call 662-436-8560.
Saturday, Oct. 18
Symphony Orchestra — The Starkville-MSU Symphony Orchestra’s free season-opening performance at Mississippi University for Women’s Rent Auditorium features guest artists Dr. Julia Mortyakova and Dr. Valentin Bogdan of MUW. The 7:30 p.m. event is presented by the Symphony Association, the Gildea Foundation, Columbus Arts Council and MUW. The orchestra is directed by Dr. Michael Brown of Mississippi State University.
Thursday, Oct. 23
Jesse Robinson in concert — The Columbus Arts Council presents guitarist and Mississippi blues ambassador Jesse Robinson of Jackson in concert with the Hip Waders in the Rosenzweig Arts Center Omnova Theater at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. For tickets or information, contact the CAC, 662-328-2787.
Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 23-25
Welty Writers’ Symposium — Mississippi University for Women presents this 26th annual symposium on campus featuring authors Tim Parrish, Deborah Johnson, Matthew Guinn, Mary Miller, John Bensko and Amy Fleury. See the full schedule at muw.edu/welty or contact director Dr. Kendall Dunkelberg, 662-329-7386. For information about the Welty Gala Oct. 24 with keynote speaker Robert Edsel, author of “The Monuments Men,” contact the Office of Development and Alumni, 662-329-7148.
Friday, Oct. 24
Book signing — Starkville natives and musical duo Hannah and Caroline Melby of HanaLena sign copies of their book, “Recipes and Road Stories,” at the Book Mart, 120 E. Main St., Starkville, from 3-5 p.m.
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