Summer is about to be filled with music once again, with free community concerts returning downtown in Starkville and Columbus.
Paige Watson, director of Main Street for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, said the organization’s Downtown at Sundown series kicks off at 7 p.m. Thursday.
“We encourage everyone to come out,” Watson said. “We want to see the park packed every time. And the acts are so good. It’s really a great show and a great event.”
Downtown at Sundown is an annual concert series the Greater Starkville Development Partnership has hosted every year since 2019, besides a break in 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The series drives community engagement and downtown activity every month during the summer, Watson said.
All three concerts for this year are scheduled for 7-9 p.m. at Fire Station Park. The series kicks off Thursday with a performance by Illegal Smiles, followed by a performance June 19 by Lizzy James and Harmonic Haze and another performance July 10 by the Disco Stranglers
The June show, Watson said, is being held in collaboration with the Starkvegas Juneteenth Committee for Unity as a kickoff to the group’s weekend celebrations.
During each concert, Watson said, there will be food trucks and drinks for sale on site. She encouraged attendees to bring blankets and chairs and to enjoy the live music.
“I love it because it’s just a community gathering,” Watson said. “People dance, people sing along, people sit, and people congregate. It’s just a very enjoyable time and it’s free and it’s a good quality of life component we do for the community.”
Sounds of Summer
Across the river, Main Street Columbus isn’t kicking off its Sounds of Summer concert series until June, Executive Director Barbara Bigelow said.
“We look forward each year to partnering with the Chamber of Commerce to bring this popular concert series to our community and visitors,” Bigelow said in a text message to The Dispatch. “We can hardly wait to kick it off on Thursday, June 12, at the Roger Short Soccer Complex. We have an awesome lineup of bands and invite everyone to come enjoy the evenings with us.”
All three of the concerts in the Sounds of Summer series will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Roger Short Soccer Complex. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets, though no pets or coolers are allowed. Cold beverages and food will also be available for purchase.
The Columbus series will kick off June 12 with a performance by Carl and the Road Dogs, followed by a June 26 performance by Jessica Horton and the Silver Eagle Band and a July 10 performance by The Bouncing Betty.
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.
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.
