Saturday, June 14
■ Lemonade Day: Young entrepreneurs will be taking to the streets throughout the Golden Triangle with lemonade stands. For more info and a stand map, visit local.lemonadeday.org/golden-triangle.
■ Inaugural Fathers Day Festival: United Way of Golden Triangle Region will host a family event from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 301 North Third Street in Columbus. It will include games, vendors, food trucks and music.
■ Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Readings: Writers Max Hipp, Robert K.D. Colby, Julian Randall, Allen R. Wells and Adam Shemper and others will be coming at 1:30 p.m. to Friendly City Books for readings prior to Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters’ annual awards banquet that evening. The reading at the book store is free and open to the public.
■ Blues at Sunset: The Boys and Girls Club of the Golden Triangle is hosting a fundraising event from 6-10 p.m. at the Hitching Lot Farmers Market, 150 Second Street North. Rick “Don’t Go” Mason will emcee the event, featuring performers Teddy B. Claraeliza Ortega, EJ Soul & The 662 Band and Chauncy Likes.
Thursday, June 19
■ Starkvegas Juneteenth Workshops and Open House: The Starkvegas Juneteenth Committee for Unity will host financial literacy and community informational workshops at 9-11 a.m. at the J.L. King Center. There will then be an open house and art display at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the J.L. King Center.
■ Starkvegas Juneteenth Opening Ceremony: The Starkvegas Juneteenth Committee for Unity will host an opening ceremony for its celebrations of Juneteenth at 6 p.m. in Fire Station Park.
■ Downtown at Sundown: The Greater Starkville Development Partnership, in collaboration with the Starkvegas Juneteenth Committee for Unity, is hosting a summer concert at 7-9 p.m. at the Cadence Bank Pavilion in Fire Station Park. Bring a lawn chair, blankets and snacks. No coolers allowed. Food and drink vendors will be on site.
Friday, June 20-Saturday, June 21
■ Columbus Juneteenth Festival: The 28th annual Juneteenth Festival will be held in Sim Scott Park. Live entertainment will begin at 7 p.m. Friday and then continue at noon Saturday. There will also be food and family fun. For vendor space, contact (662) 251-8125 or (662) 328-2491.
Friday, June 20
■ Juneteenth Celebrations: The Starkvegas Juneteenth Committee for Unity is holding celebrations throughout the day at J.L. King Park. There will be an Amazon Kids Fun Day from noon to 4 p.m., followed by a special presentation by District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer at 5 p.m. and then an arts and cultural experience from 6-10 p.m. featuring local DJs, special guests and fireworks.
■ MSU/Starkvegas Heritage Tour: The Starkvegas Juneteenth Committee for Unity is holding a Mississippi State University/Starkvegas Heritage and History tour from 2:15-4 p.m., departing from the Needmore Community Center.
Saturday, June 21
■ Black Men’s Mental Health Conference: The justUs, MH Foundation presents the second Black Men’s Mental Health Conference from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mississippi University for Women. Registration is open now. More info: bmmhc.com or call (404) 41-0748.
■ Rural Health Study and 5K: Starkvegas Juneteenth Committee for Unity will be holding the OCH 5K Run/Walk beginning at 8 a.m. at the Needmore Community Center. The 5K will be followed by a Rural Health and Lung Study and Health Fair at Unity Park.
■ Exotic Car Show: There will be an Exotic Car Show, in conjunction with the Starkvegas Juneteenth Committee for Unity’s celebrations, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Fire Station Park.
■ Unity Park Induction: The Oktibbeha County Unity Park committee is hosting an induction ceremony for its 2025 honorees at 10 a.m. at the park. There will be refreshments served, and the event is open to the public.
■ MSU/Starkvegas Heritage Tour: The Starkvegas Juneteenth Committee for Unity is holding a Mississippi State University/Starkvegas Heritage and History tour at 1-3 p.m., departing from Unity Park.
■ Juneteenth Celebrations at Renasant Plaza: The Starkvegas Juneteenth Committee for Unity is holding a collaborative partners meet and greet at 5-7 p.m. at Renasant Plaza, followed by an art and cultural experience at 7-10 p.m. in the same location.
Sunday, June 22
■ Juneteenth Celebration: The Starkvegas Juneteenth Committee for Unity is holding an art and cultural experience at 3 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church.
Thursday, June 26
■ Sounds of Summer: Main Street Columbus is hosting a summer concert from 6:30-8:30 p.m. featuring Jessica Horton and the Silver Eagle Band at the Roger Short Soccer Complex downtown. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. No pets or personal coolers.
Friday, June 27-Saturday, June 28
■ Lowndes County Benefit Rodeo: A rodeo will be held at Lowndes County Arena and Pavilion, benefiting United Way of the Golden Triangle Region, Loaves and Fishes of Lowndes County, Lowndes County VFD Honor Guard and the Lowndes County Master Gardeners Scholarship Fund. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the rodeo begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person, though children less than 5 years old get in free. More info: (662) 328-2111.
Thursday, July 10
■ Sounds of Summer: Main Street Columbus is hosting a summer concert from 6:30-8:30 p.m. featuring The Bouncing Betty at the Roger Short Soccer Complex downtown. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. No pets or personal coolers.
Friday, July 11
■ Casino Night: Lowndes Community Foundation will hold a casino night fundraiser from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Trotter Convention Center. Tickets are $100, and include two drink tickets, one raffle entry and $500 in casino chips. The event will also feature a DJ and a cash bar. Tickets can be purchased by making a $100 gift to the LCF Annual Fundraiser Special Project Fund via the CREATE Foundation website.
Saturday, July 19
■ Dancing in the Park: KMG Creations Productions is hosting its 16th annual Dancing in the Park event from 9-11 a.m. at Fire Station Park. The event is free and family friendly. More info: kmgcreationsdfp.com
Saturday, Aug. 16
■ Possumtown Book Fest: Friendly City Books Community Connection, a special project of the CREATE Foundation, is hosting the second Possumtown Book Fest! More information will be released on possumtownbookfest.com as it becomes available.
Thursday, Sept. 18
■ Barn Concert Series: The Barn is hosting a performance by Doug MacLeod, featuring special guest Rachel Maxann. Doors open at 6 p.m. with music beginning at 7 p.m. at the Mac Davis Road venue. Tickets are $30 and are available at barnconcertseries.com
Friday, Oct. 10
■ Barn Concert Series: The Barn is hosting a performance by Jonatha Brooke, featuring special guest Wyly Bigger. Doors open at 6 p.m. with music beginning at 7 p.m. at the Mac Davis Road venue. Tickets are $30 and are available at barnconcertseries.com.
Thursday, Oct. 23
■ Barn Concert Series: The Barn is hosting a performance by Beat Root Revival, featuring special guests King Margo. Doors open at 6 p.m. with music beginning at 7 p.m. at the Mac Davis Road venue. Tickets are $30 and are available at barnconcertseries.com.
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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 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.


