Saturday and Sunday
■ Columbus Spring Pilgrimage: The Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau hosts the annual Spring Pilgrimage featuring tours of 18 pre-Civil War homes, including the final tour appearance of the Amzi-Love Home. The celebration includes candlelight tours and special events throughout the city. Tickets and full schedules are available at visitcolumbusms.org.
■ Porch Fest: Munson & Brothers hosts a three-day music festival at 301 2nd Ave. N. in Columbus. The event features more than 20 bands and artists from across the country performing folk, Americana and rock music, along with food and beer.
■ Spring Plant Sale: The Lowndes County Master Gardeners host a spring plant sale at the Lowndes County Agri-Center & Pavilion, 485 Tom Rose Road in Columbus. The sale runs from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday and 1–4 p.m. on Sunday. Featured items include natives, vegetables, trees, butterfly plants, heirlooms, herbs and more. Payment is accepted via cash, check or credit card.

Saturday
■ Bulldog Invitational Judo Tournament: Hosted by Downtown Martial Arts Academy, this tournament takes place in Starkville from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The cost to participate is $50. Registration is available online at smoothcomp.com/en/event/28075.
■ Breakfast with the Ponies: The Mississippi State University Equestrian Team hosts its annual spring community event from 8-11 a.m. at the MSU Horse Unit. Activities include breakfast, pony rides and horse grooming sessions. Payment is accepted via cash or check only. Registration is required by April 16. To register, email Head Coach Ashley Glenn at [email protected].
■ Blue Bonnet Trailblazer Run: The race begins at 8 a.m. at the Plymouth Bluff Environmental Center, 2200 Old West Point Road. Registration is $30 before April 6.
■ Cotton District Arts Festival: The annual Cotton District Arts Festival takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Cotton District in Starkville. The event features local and regional art, live music, food vendors and family-friendly activities. For more information and a schedule of events, visit cdafestival.com.
■ Mental Health 101: What Everyone Should Know: Mental health professionals lead a program focused on breaking stigma and opening honest conversations at 2 p.m. in the meeting room of the downtown library. This event is part of the ongoing Friendship Bench Initiative series. For more information, contact Wil’Lani Turner at (662) 329-5297.
■ Lee High School 60-Year Reunion: The Lee High School Class of 1966 will gather at Lion Hills Golf Club in Columbus for its 60-year reunion. The event begins at 3 p.m., and all 1966 graduates are invited to attend.
■ Del Rendon Music Festival: The Del Rendon Foundation hosts its 20th annual music festival from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern, 410 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive E. in Starkville. The event features a lineup of musicians and artists and serves as a major fundraiser supporting the arts in the Golden Triangle.

Monday, April 20
■ The American Revolution in the Gulf South: Dr. Max Grivno presents “The American Revolution in the Gulf South” at 6 p.m. at Mississippi University for Women. Grivno, a professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, will explore how the Revolution transformed the region and how American, British, Spanish and Native powers vied for control of the Mississippi River and Gulf seaports.

Wednesday, April 22
■ Feminist Book Club: The club meets at 4 p.m. at Friendly City Books to discuss Florence Given’s “Women Don’t Owe You Pretty.”

Friday, April 24–Saturday, April 25
■ Musical – “She Loves Me”: The Mississippi University for Women Department of Music presents “She Loves Me” at 7:30 p.m. nightly in Poindexter Hall on the MUW campus.

Saturday, April 25
■ Sickle Cell 5K Run/Walk: The Progressive Foundation of Clay County, Inc. hosts its seventh annual Sickle Cell 5K Run and Walk at Marshall Park, 147 College St. in West Point. The event includes categories for men, women and youth. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with an entry fee of $20 per person. For more information, call (662) 295-8061 or visit progressivefoundationofclaycounty.com.
■ Healthy Kids Day: The Columbus YMCA hosts Healthy Kids Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Downtown Y. The event features hands-on activities and movement challenges designed to help children stay active and healthy throughout the summer. The event is free and open to the public.
■ The Starkville Derby: Mama Justice presents the annual Starkville Derby beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Cotton District in Starkville. The “world’s largest weenie dog race” also features nearly 200 food and art vendors, flyovers, live music and a kids’ zone. Gates open at 9:30 a.m. and racing begins at 11:15 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.
■ 9th Annual Edible Book Festival: The Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System invites the community to the 9th Annual Edible Book Festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Columbus Library downtown, 314 Seventh St. N. Create a treat inspired by a book or view the displays. Submissions should be dropped off between 9 and 10 a.m. and picked up at 1:30 p.m.
■ Candle-Making Workshop: The Columbus Arts Council hosts a hands-on candle-making workshop with Victoria Robinson at 10 a.m. at 501 Main St. in Columbus. Participants will learn to blend scents and create their own candles. Registration is required by April 11 at columbusartscouncil.com/tickets.
■ More Than a Bench: A Place to Sit and Be Heard: The Friendship Bench Initiative continues its series with a session at 2 p.m. in the meeting room of the downtown library. The program focuses on providing a supportive space for community members to be heard and find mental health support. For more information, contact Wil’Lani Turner at (662) 329-5297.

Monday, April 27
■ Wind Ensemble & Brass Concert: The Mississippi University for Women Wind Ensemble and The Ody Brass Collective perform their spring concert at 7:30 p.m. in Poindexter Hall on the MUW campus. Admission is free.

Tuesday, April 28
■ Jazz Ensemble Concert: The Mississippi University for Women Jazz Ensemble performs its spring concert at 7:30 p.m. in Poindexter Hall on the MUW campus. Admission is free.

Thursday, April 30
■ Visitor’s Breakfast: Starkville BNI (Business Network International) hosts a visitor’s breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at Central Station Grill, 200 S. Montgomery St. in Starkville. Local business owners and professionals are invited to network and learn about referral-based marketing.
■ Power of the Purse: United Way of the Golden Triangle Region hosts its inaugural Power of the Purse from 6–9 p.m. at The Hill and Moor. The event features a luxury purse auction, silent auction, luxury bag raffles and a wine and bourbon pull-down. The Power of the Purse Philanthropist of the Year Award will also be presented. Tickets are $100 in advance or $125 at the door.

Saturday, May 2
■ Market Street Festival: Main Street Columbus hosts its signature downtown street festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout 12 city blocks of historic downtown Columbus. The day-long celebration features arts and crafts vendors, live music and a variety of food booths and family-friendly activities. The event also includes the Possum Town Show and Shine car show. Admission is free.
■ Zach Bryan in Concert: Zach Bryan performs at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville as part of his “Quittin Time” tour. The concert features support from special guests Dijon and J.R. Carroll. For ticket information and show times, visit hailstate.evenue.net/events/ZBtour.

Friday, May 8
■ The Eighth of May Emancipation Celebration: Students from the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, along with local schools and Mississippi University for Women, commemorate the legacy of area African Americans starting at 6 p.m. at Sandfield Cemetery. The program features song, spoken word and dramatic performances based on historical research to honor the date in 1865 when Union troops arrived to end slavery in Columbus. To learn more, visit themsms.org/8th-of-may-emancipation-celebration.

Saturday, May 9
■ Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market Grand Opening and Kid’s Market: Main Street Columbus celebrates the season opening of the Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market from 7–10 a.m. at the corner of Second Street and Second Avenue North. In addition to local produce and sustainable goods, the event features a Kids’ Market where entrepreneurs ages 6–16 can sell homegrown and handmade items. For more information, visit hitchinglotfarmersmarket.com or call (662) 328-6305.
■ Homeschool Yo Kids Expo: The Homeschool Yo Kids nonprofit organization hosts its national traveling expo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Columbus Homeschool Resource Center, 515 N. Lehmberg Road in Columbus. The event is designed for those new to or considering homeschooling to learn about resources and support groups available in the Golden Triangle region. Members of the East Columbus Homeschool Organization (ECHO) will be present as exhibitors. For tickets or more information, visit homeschoolyokidsexpo.com.

Saturday, May 30
■ The Great Fossil Chase: Main Street Columbus hosts “The Great Fossil Chase” from 3–6 p.m. at the Dr. John “Jack” Kaye Cretaceous Fossil Park. Participants wishing to race must bring their own inflatable dinosaur or shark costume. Sign-up for races is required by 4 p.m., with races beginning at 4:30 p.m. for various age groups ranging from 6 to 60+. For more information, call (662) 328-6305 or visit columbusmainstreet.com.