Summer, which always seems to overstay its welcome in this part of the world, finally packed its bags and went away Thursday, giving us one last day of 90-degree weather as festive fall arrived.
We are always happy to see fall when she arrives, dressed in brilliant hues of gold and yellow and brown. As if to welcome her back, all sorts of events dot the weekend calendar, enticing us to leave our homes and venture outdoors.
The weekend weather will be perfect — highs in the mid-70s and lows in the crisp 50s.
You need not venture far to join the celebration. Tonight at 6, the two-day Caledonia Days celebration begins with a free concert at Ola J. Pickett Park, with another performance at 8. Saturday, the party continues, with activities scheduled from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Plenty of food and crafts will be available along with a petting zoo, car show, kids play area and live music. There will also be a 5-K run (8:30 a.m.) and a 1-mile walk/fun run at 8 a.m. Each year, Caledonia Days seems to grow and improve and we expect no less this year. The schedule of events, along with the perfect weather, should produce a great turn-out.
Folks will be running at Mississippi University for Women, too, as the university stages its “Rattle Them Bones 5K” at The W’s Stark Recreation Center. The run is a fund-raiser for the “Be the Match” bone marrow program.
If walking is your preference, Sunday provides a great opportunity to enjoy the scenery along the Columbus Riverwalk during the Mississippi Walk for Diabetes Golden Triangle. Registration begins at 1 p.m. followed by the walk at 2.
If all that walking and running leaves you a bit winded, you can treat yourself to some musical entertainment both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Dennis and Leslie McKay of M.A.C. Records will be conducting a Gospel Talent Search and concert in Vernon. The event begins at noon at the Alabama City Complex. While the talent search entry deadline has passed, gospel fans are invited to listen in. At 5:30 p.m., a gospel concert featuring several professional artists is planned.
On Sunday, the first program of the Martha Claire Kennedy Fitzner Concert Series will feature an organ recital by Jeremy Adcock. The recital will be held at 4 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Although it is not an event staged in our backyard, a weekend drive to Northport , Alabama for the annual Kentuck Festival of the Arts offers a cornucopia of delights. Hailed by Southern Living magazine as “the best of all things Southern” the festival will be held form 9 a.m. Until 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
The festival is held at Kentuck Park, located at 3501 Fifth St., in Northport. It will feature 265 artists in folk, traditional and contemporary art, as well as craft demonstrations, live music, spoken-word performances, kids’ hands-on activities, food, drink and more.
It all shapes up to be one of the busiest weekends in the fall. We encourage everyone to get out there to one or more of these events. Join the party. Fall is here.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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