Wednesday, Aug. 27
Starkville’s Get Swept Up — Volunteer for the 11th annual Get Swept Up event, a city-wide clean-up day in Starkville. Volunteers get a T-shirt and are provided cleaning supplies. Contact the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, 662-323-3322, or go to chamber.starkville.org.
Thursday, Aug. 28
Artist’s Talk — Musician and artist Chad Anderson talks about his portraits of acclaimed jazz musicians at 5:30 p.m. at the Columbus Arts Council’s Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main St. His series “Twelve Bar Bridge: Rhythm in Portrait” is on display in the arts center through Thursday. Call, 662-328-2787, for more information.
MUW Alumni — The Lowndes County Chapter of the Mississippi University for Women Alumni Association meets at 11:30 a.m. at Lion Hills Center. Peppy Biddy, head of the MUW Theatre Department, is guest speaker.
Friday, Aug. 29
Howlin’ Wolf Memorial Blues Festival — This 19th annual blues fest features George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners, Carolyn Wonderland, Lightnin’ Malcolm & Stud, and Mr. Sip at the Mary Holmes College Auditorium in West Point. Doors open at 6 p.m.; music at 7 p.m. $15 in advance; $20 at the door. Get tickets at the Columbus Arts Council, in Starkville at Jack Forbus Insurance, and in West Point at Culin-Arts. Or online at wpnet.org. For information, contact Richard Ramsey, 662-605-0770 or [email protected]. The festival is presented by the Prairie Belt Blues Foundation.
Starkville Block Party — Starkville’s Downtown Block Party to kick off the football season is 6-8 p.m. at College Park on Russell Street and features an MSU pep rally, annual Tailgating Wear Fashion Show, live music, food vendors and kids village. Go to starkville.org.
Saturday, Aug. 30
Prairie Arts Festival — The 36th annual Prairie Arts Festival in downtown West Point features fine arts, crafts, Southern cooking, music, classic cars, Kidsville and more from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A 5K race begins at 8 a.m. This Top 10 Southeast Tourism Society event includes nearly 400 vendors. For more information, contact the Growth Alliance, 662-494-5121.
Book signing — Mississippi State alumna Jamie James signs copies of her children’s book, “Game Days in the Fall,” at The Book Mart, 120 E. Main St., Starkville, from 1-3 p.m. For more information, call 662-323-2844.
Wednesday, Sept. 3
Table Talk — Bobby Cole of West Point talks about “The Rented Mule,” his third suspense thriller set in the South, at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library. Bring lunch at 11:30 a.m.; iced tea is provided by Friends of the Library. Or join friends from noon-1 p.m. for the free program at the library, 314 Seventh St. N. Call 662-329-5300 for more information.
Thursday, Sept. 4
Columbus Art Walk — Columbus’ second annual Art Walk from 5:30-8 p.m. features area artists paired with downtown merchants for an evening of original art, live music and evening shopping. For more information, contact Main Street Columbus, 662-328-6305.
“Ozland” premiere — This feature-length film by West Point independent filmmaker Michael Williams of Shendopen Productions premieres locally in a test screening at the Malco Theatre in Columbus at 7 p.m. “Ozland” was filmed in the Golden Triangle and in Kansas. Tickets are $10. Visit ozlandthefilm.com.
Saturday, Sept. 6
Columbus Humane Society Reunion — The Humane Society hosts its first annual reunion from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for pets adopted from the shelter. Activities include raffle and prizes, best trick contest, owner look-alike contest, group photo, bake sale, free dog baths, nail trims, treats, training tips and more. Concessions available. (All pets must be on a leash and current on vaccinations.) For more information, contact the CLHS, 662-549-3629 or email [email protected].
Monday through Sunday, Sept 8-14
Tennessee Williams Tribute & Tour of Victorian Homes — The 13th annual Tribute includes a production of Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie,” a Moon Lake Party featuring Broadway actor Joel Vig, scholars’ talks, Stella Shouting Contest, city and home tours, movie screening, 5K run, luncheons and a special Sunday sermon. Several events are free. Get tickets for ticketed events at the Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main St., Columbus (662-328-2787). All-event packages are discounted until Aug. 30. For information, visit muw.edu/tennesseewilliams, call 800-327-2686 or 662-328-0222, or email [email protected].
Wednesday, Sept. 10
Table Talk — Dr. Ralph Voss, recipient of the 2014 Tennessee Williams Distinguished Scholar Medal, speaks on “America’s Greatest Playwright” at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, 314 Seventh St. N. Bring lunch at 11:30 a.m.; iced tea is served by the Friends of the Library. Or join friends for the program noon-1 p.m. For information, contact the library, 662-329-5300.
Thursday, Sept. 18
Grammy-nominated violinist — The Columbus Arts Council presents Grammy nominee and Billboard No. 1 charting classical artist Jenny Oaks Baker in concert in Poindexter Hall on the Mississippi University for Women campus at 7:30 p.m. Alisa Toy accompanies Baker, whose repertoire ranges from classical and Disney to rock and spiritual. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. For tickets or information, contact the CAC, 662-328-2787.
Saturday, Sept. 20
SAAC Gala — “A Venetian Evening” Starkville Area Arts Council fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. at the Hunter Henry Center on Mississippi State’s campus features dinner, dancing, silent auction and tombola. Entertainment is by Bill Cooke & Kanna Wermz and Daniel Jones. Tickets are $75. For tickets or information, contact the SAAC, 662-324-3080.
Sunday, Sept. 21
Historical Society — The Columbus and Lowndes County Historical Society hosts Civil War historian and author Brandon Beck as speaker at 3 p.m. at the Stephen D. Lee Home, 316 Seventh St. N. The public is invited. For more information, contact Eulalie Davis, 662-328-3088.
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