STARKVILLE — Starkville Town and Country Garden Club announces the return of their tablescapes event from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 24 at the First Baptist Church Outreach Center, located at 210 South Jackson Street.

“It has been nine years since the last tablescapes event,” said Michele Rackley, garden club member and co-chair of the club’s Fundraising Committee. “We were scheduled to hold one in 2020, but it was canceled due to the pandemic. Then our focus and energy were on hosting the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. annual convention in Starkville (in) April 2023. Needless to say, we are all excited to bring the tablescapes event back – especially since we get so many inquiries about and requests for the event.”

A tablescapes event offers participants the opportunity to see beautifully decorated and themed tables featuring linens, dinnerware, candles, holiday decorations, and gorgeous floral arrangements. Participants will be able to view the tables decorated by garden club members as well as tables decorated by exhibitors, who might also be selling items from their store. There will be numerous prize drawings, a delicious lunch, and an educational workshop featuring Brandon Branch, owner of the famed St. Francisville Inn in Louisiana.

“This year’s tablescapes event was moved to the fall and features the theme of At Home for the Season, which we hope will inspire participant’s creative ideas for decorating their homes and tables for the upcoming holidays,” said Rackley.

“We are currently looking for exhibitors that want to decorate a table and/or sell garden, floral or home-related products,” said Brenda Thames, garden club member and co-chair of the club’s fundraising committee. “For those not wanting to decorate a table, they can be an event sponsor. Sponsors will be featured in our advertising, event program, and other promotional aspects, including on our Starkville Town and Country Garden Club Facebook page. … Exhibit tables cost $50 and event sponsorships are $75 dollars each.”

The tablescapes event is a fundraiser for the garden club to fund numerous community projects such as supporting the Garden of Goodness & Glory Junior Garden Club, student scholarships to garden camps or workshops, school conservation programs and Arbor Day tree planting.

Individual tickets are $50 per person and are only available for purchase in advance from garden club members or at the following Starkville locations – Luna Bella, Olive Tree, Restaurant Tyler, and Whittington’s. For more information about exhibiting, sponsoring, or purchasing tickets, please contact Brenda Thames via text or phone at (601) 209-5901. There will be no ticket sales at the door.

The Starkville Town and Country Garden Club strives to improve the knowledge of its members through monthly educational programs, regional workshops, and the sharing of information and resources among club members and the community.