Today
Loaves & Fishes Open House — Columbus’ Loaves & Fishes Community Soup Kitchen invites the public to see the facility and meet volunteers as it hosts a 10th anniversary open house from 3-5 p.m. at 223 22nd St. N.
Sunday Funday — This mini arts and music fest from 1-6 p.m. near the Parthenon on University Drive in Starkville features art vendors, kids’ art activities, local music and more.
Wednesday, Aug. 29
Book signing — Bill Darnell will talk about his book “One Light City” and sign copies from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Caledonia Public Library on Main Street in Caledonia. Light refreshments will be served.
Get Swept Up — Volunteers can sign up now to “fix up, spruce up, clean up” outdoor areas of Starkville before the Bulldogs’ first home game. Register at getsweptup.com. For more information, contact The Partnership, 662-323-3322.
Thursday, Aug. 30
Dancer/actress Nicole Marquez — The W’s Gordy Honors College Fall Forum Series opens with a talk by dancer/actress Nicole Marquez, author of “Falling Isn’t Failure,” at 6 p.m. in Nissan Auditorium on campus. Free to the public. Email [email protected], call 662-241-6850, or visit muw.edu/honors/forum.
Friday, Aug. 31
Black Prairie Blues Festival — This 23rd annual fest (formerly Howlin’ Wolf Blues Festival) features Jessie Robinson, Ghost Town Blues Band, and Big Joe Shelton and the Black Prairie Blues Ambassadors at Mary Holmes College in West Point. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.; music begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance ($25 at the door) at blackprairiebluesfestival.com, Columbus Arts Council/Columbus, Growth Alliance/West Point or Jack Forbus Insurance/Starkville. For information, visit the site or contact Jeremy Klutts, 662-295-8361.
Night Market — Visit open-air indy vendors, pop-up shops, artisans and food booths from 5-10 p.m. at Fire Station Park in Starkville. For more information, contact The Greater Starkville Partnership, 662-323-3322.
Friday and Saturday, Aug. 31-Sept. 1
Book signings — Breast cancer survivor and former Miss MSU and three-time Top Ten Miss Mississippi finalist Molly May signs “My Crowning Achievement (Beating Cancer)” Aug. 31 4-6 p.m. in MSU’s McComas Hall Theatre lobby; and Sept. 1 10 a.m.-noon at The Book Mart & Cafe, and 2-4 p.m. at Barnes and Noble at MSU.
Saturday, Sept. 1
Prairie Arts Festival — West Point’s 40th annual arts festival features about 300 vendors of fine arts, crafts and food throughout downtown West Point. For more information, visit facebook.com/PrairieArtsFestival or contact the Growth Alliance at 662-494-5121.
Thursday, Sept. 6
Exhibit reception — A reception from 5:30-7 p.m. at The W’s Art & Design Building celebrates “The Visionary Art of Roger Rice.” Before serving time in prison, Rice earned a bachelor’s degree from The W and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Ole Miss.
Exhibit reception — A reception for an exhibit of found-object sculptures and paintings by Amy Ballard of Columbus is 5:30-7 p.m. at the Columbus Arts Council’s Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main St. Artwork by Ballard’s art students from Victory Christian Academy will be displayed in the adjoining Artist Alley gallery. For information, call the CAC, 662-328-2787.
Friday through Sunday, Sept 7-9
Tennessee Williams Tribute — This year’s theme is “Tennessee, Tallulah and Truman: Birds of a Feather.” Enjoy the Stella Shouting Contest and more (Sept. 7) and porch plays, a movie and elegant Moon Lake Gala with Broadway actor Joel Vig as Truman Capote (Sept. 8). A special sermon and tour of Victorian homes is Sept. 9. All-weekend pass is $100, or purchase individual event tickets. Several are free. Visit tennesseewilliamstribute.org or call 662-368-8591.
Monday, Sept. 10
Hazard Lecture Series — The 2018 Hazard Lecture Series presents Jim Floyd, program advisor and former director of the Auburn University Canine Performance Sciences, at 7 p.m. at Heritage Academy Elementary School Activity Building, 623 Willowbrook Road, Columbus. Free to the public. A second lecture featuring World War I historian Andrew Pouncey will be Oct. 22. For more information, contact Beth Lucas, 662-327-1595, ext. 211.
Thursday, Sept. 13
Roast-N-Boast auction — This fundraiser to benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital begins at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 308 Chubby Drive, Columbus. Free to attend; refreshments will be available for purchase. For information, visit roastnboast.com/auction.
Friday, Sept. 14
Starkville Art Walk — Part of New South Weekends in Starkville, fine art vendors will display and sell their original work in tents throughout downtown from 2-5 p.m. For more information, visit starkville.org of contact The Partnership, 662-323-3322.
Sunday, Sept. 16
Downtown Venue Stroll — Stroll downtown Columbus from 1-5 p.m. to visit three unique social venues, Events Off 5th, The Southern and Venue 208. Enjoy light refreshments and mellow entertainment as you tour event venues and meet the owners.
Friday and Saturday,
Sept. 21-22
Roast-N-Boast BBQ championship — This Mississippi State BBQ Championship takes place at the Columbus Fairgrounds on Highway 69 South. Opening ceremony is 5 p.m. Sept. 21. $5 gate charge Sept. 21; no charge Sept. 22. For information, visit roastnboast.com.
Sunday, Sept. 23
Young Entrepreneurs Market — Columbus Main Street, Hitching Lot Farmers Market and The W present an Aspiring Young Entrepreneurs Market from 2-4 p.m. at the market in Columbus. Participants 10-18 years old and living with 50 miles of the Hitching Lot Farmers Market at Second Avenue and Second Street North can apply to sell their handmade or homegrown items. Application deadline is Aug. 31. Vist columbusmainstreet.com, email [email protected], or call 662-328-6305.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.