Saturday, June 21
■ Columbus Juneteenth Festival: The 28th annual Juneteenth Festival will be held in Sim Scott Park. Live entertainment will begin at noon Saturday. There will also be food and family fun. For vendor space, contact (662) 251-8125 or (662) 328-2491.
■ Benefit Concert for Starkville Strong: There will be a family friendly benefit concert for Starkville Strong from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rick’s Cafe. There will be live music, food trucks, pool tournaments and the bar will be open.
■ 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) 941-0748.
■ 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, benefitting 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.
Saturday, June 28
■ Cat’s Meow Pride Bash: The Great Catsby Herb Cartel Garden is hosting a drag show and garden dance party to celebrate its queer and allied community. For more info or to become a sponsor, email [email protected].
Friday, July 4
■ Fireworks on the Water: Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau is hosting Fireworks on the Water on the east bank of the Stennis Lock and Dam on Wilkins-Wise Road. Gates open at 5 p.m. There will be food trucks, live music and children’s activities and fireworks at dark.
Saturday, July 5
■ Peace, Love and Freedom: New Hope Strong is hosting the second New Hope Festival all day at New Hope High School. The festival will begin at 8 a.m. with a 5K and Fun Run. Crafts, arts and food vendors will be set up from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. There will also be a car show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. followed by a concert beginning at 5 p.m. featuring Kenny Gardner, Tonja Rose and David Timms. The festival will conclude with a fireworks show beginning at 9 p.m.
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
■ Let’s Flamingle Downtown: Main Street Columbus is hosting Let’s Flamingle Downtown at 5-8 p.m., where participants can find hidden flamingos inside participating businesses to be registered for a door prize.
■ 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.
Wednesday, July 16
■ Community Event Series: Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum is hosting a talk by speaker George Trawick at 10:30 a.m., speaking on cyber safety and how to protect yourself from scams.
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
Tuesday, Aug. 5
■ National Night Out in Lowndes: Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office is hosting an event at 5-8 p.m. for National Night Out. This will include free food, drinks and entertainment, along with giving community members a chance to interact with law enforcement. Bring a canned or non-perishable food item for the little free food pantries to be entered into a drawing for a free dinner for two at Old Hickory Steakhouse.
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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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.
