Today
Welcome Back picnic — The Homestead Education Center, 402 Lake Valley Drive, Starkville, hosts this grass-fed barbecue and potluck picnic from 4-6 p.m. Bring a side dish to share and chair or blanket. Burgers, watermelon provided. Pool is open. $5 for guests; free to Homestead members. Register at mississippimodernhomestead.wildapricot.org/event-2605813.
Tuesday, Aug. 15
Town Hall — A Town Hall meeting on opioid abuse begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Columbus Municipal Complex, 1501 Main St. Representatives from the Department of Mental Health, Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Narcotics and Board of Pharmacy present “Death, Cost and Destruction: The Impact of Opioids in Your Community.”
Eagles Tribute — Area musicians Dale Robertson, Jerry Carnathan, Bob Damm, Ronnie McGee, Brent Varner, Bill Cooke, Raymond Miller and Raymond Brooks present a free Hotel California Tribute at 6:30 p.m. at the MSU Amphitheater. Rain location: Lee Hall. Sponsored by the MSU Lyceum Series and Music Maker Productions, part of MSU Dawg Days.
Thursday, Aug. 17
Writers’ Series with Katy Simpson Smith — The Columbus Arts Council’s and grant partners’ Mississippi Writers’ Series presents author Katy Simpson Smith (“The Story of Land and Sea,” “Free Men”) at 7 p.m. at the Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main St. Free to the public.
Friday through Sunday,
Aug. 18-20
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally — This rally features vendors, contests, bike games and entertainment by Little Texas, Southern Halo and Miles Flatt. Register at msrally.com/registration-99. For more information, email [email protected]. For sponsorship info, contact Village Cycle Center, 662-323-1555.
Saturday, Aug. 19
Possum Town Triathlon — Cheer them on as about 200 participants swim 600 yards, bike 17 miles and run 3.3 miles starting at 7 a.m. in the sixth annual Possum Town Triathlon at Columbus Lake. Awards presentation is set for 10 a.m. For more information, visit possumtowntriathlon.com/registration.
Golden Triangle Comic Con — Comic Con is back, with celebrity guests, geek and gaming vendors, tournaments, cosplay contest and more from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (gaming continues until 11 p.m.) on Trotter Convention Center’s upper level. Tickets $20 age 16 and up; $15 military, first responders (ID required); $10 ages 9-15; free for age 8 and under. Get tickets at gtcomiccon.com.
Forks & Corks — This Starkville Area Arts Council fundraiser from 6:30-9:30 p.m. features top area chefs and tastings of their creative specialties at The Mill Conference Center. Tickets are $75, or $800 for tables of eight. Purchase tickets at eventbrite.com or contact the SAAC, 662-324-3080.
Denim & Diamonds — The annual Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum fundraiser begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Starkville Country Club. The barbecue dinner includes entertainment by the band Avalanche. Tickets are $40 at The Book Mart and the museum. Call 662-323-0211.
Sunday, Aug. 20
Sundays at the Center — The West Point/Clay County Arts Council presents music with Rachel Delk Wood at 2 p.m. at the Louise Campbell Center for the Arts, 235 Commerce St., West Point.
Thursday, Aug. 24
Poetry and spoken word — A poetry/spoken word open mic begins at 8 p.m. at Books & Boards, 422 Main St., Columbus, hosted by C.T. Salazar. Call 662-798-0859 for more information.
Saturday, Aug. 26
Island Paddlefest — Bring a kayak, canoe or paddleboard for this 5.5-mile race on the Tenn-Tom to benefit Lowndes County Imagination Library. Race begins and ends at the Columbus Riverwalk. Register at islandpaddlefest.org. Races begin at 8 a.m. (Fans can enjoy a riverside Storytime with Mother Goose at 10 a.m.)
Banana Bonanza — The Columbus-Lowndes Public Library hosts a Back to School Banana Bonanza for pre-K to young adults, parents and educators. Learn about library resources while playing library-wide bingo with prizes, refreshments and more. For more information, contact the library, 662-329-5300.
Sunday, Aug. 27
Sumic Trio — The Columbus Arts Council presents the Sumic Trio at 2 p.m. in the Rosenzweig Arts Center’s Omnova Theater. The Sandifer siblings on violin/fiddle, mandolin, guitar and cello present classical to Irish music, sacred to bluegrass. Tickets $10 in advance at columbus-arts.org or the arts center. $12 at the door. For information, call 662-328-2787.
Sunday Funday — The Rue du Grand Fromage in Starkville’s Cotton District features area artists, musicians and community organizations from 1-6 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 30
Get Swept Up — Calling all volunteers to clean up Starkville’s parks and streets before the Bulldogs first home game. For more information or to volunteer, contact Greater Starkville Development Partnership, 662-323-3322.
Friday, Sept. 1
Black Prairie Blues Festival — West Point’s 22nd annual blues fest features Big George Brock, Victor Wainwright and the Old Memphis Kings beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Mary Holmes College. Tickets to the indoor concert are $20 in advance at blackprairiebluesfestival.com, the Growth Alliance (West Point), the Columbus Arts Council or Jack Forbus Insurance (Starkville); $25 at the door. Barbecue, T-shirts, CDs (but not alcohol) will available for purchase. Small coolers are allowed. Visit the website for more information.
Night Market — The Greater Starkville Development Partnership hosts its second annual Night Market from 7-9 p.m. at Fire Station Park, 503 E. Lampkin St., Starkville. Dining, live music and shopping with artisans and pop-up shops, all in one location. Food Tasting Band, $15; Food and Beverage Tasting Band, $25. For more information, contact the GSDP, 662-323-3322.
Saturday, Sept. 2
Prairie Arts Festival — West Point’s 39th annual Prairie Arts Festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. features hundreds of fine arts, crafts and food vendors. Highlights also include live music, classic car show, Kidsville and more. Visit westpoinms.org or call 662-494-5121.
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