MERIDIAN —     Meridian is the place to be this weekend — the Key Brothers Diamond Anniversary Air Show, the King Crawdad Festival and The Spinners will all be keeping our community busy with the wide range of talents and performances.

    The gates open for the air show at 8:30 a.m. and ends Sunday. Presented by the Meridian Airport Authority, the show will be featuring acts including Team Chaos, the World's Fastest Jet-Powered Truck, Gary Rower, Bert Zeller and Stan Musick.

    This event recognizes and honors Al and Fred Key who worked during the Great Depression to generate interest in air travel. These two brothers invented a successful way of refueling a plane in mid-air so flights could go longer and be more efficient. The Key brothers made advances in air traffic technology, and some of their techniques are still used to this day.

    Other attractions will also be at the show in case your neck gets a little sore from looking up. A one-thirds scale of an F-117 Stealth Fighter will be waiting to have kids crawl inside to explore and be photographed. There will also be inflatables and rock climbing available for children, as well as classic hand-made mahogany model collectables at reasonable prices. And for all of you plane fanatics, many other airplanes will be displayed for your pleasure and exploration.

    Admission today and Sunday is $10 per adult, $5 per student and children under 10-years-old get in for free. Pets are not allowed and be sure to leave all outside food and drink at home.



King Crawdad Festival



    If airplanes are not your interest, go out to the Lauderdale Count Agri-Center for the King Crawdad Festival. The gates open at 3 p.m. this afternoon, and there will be more than enough festivities for the whole family to enjoy.

    The concerts will be hosted by Travis "T-Bone" Turner and Nick Mundt beginning at 3:30 p.m. with Southern Drive and ending with Blake Shelton who will take the stage at 8 p.m.

    The festival schedule of events is as follows: Southern Drive at 3:30 p.m., Mud-Bug Chug at 4:30 p.m., The Travis Clark Band at 5 p.m., announcement of archery winners, 5K winners, "Miss Queen Crawdad," and Mud-Bug Chug winner at 6:15 p.m., Flynnville Train at 7 p.m. and Blake Shelton at 8 p.m.

    Don't leave the kids at home. There will be activities for children going on all day long.

    It is too late to get advance tickets, but adults can still get in at the gate for $50, tickets for adolescents ages 18 to 9 are $30 at the gate and kids under 8-years-old get in for free. All tickets include the concerts and as much crawfish as you can eat, but be sure to bring your favorite lawn chair so you don't ruin your favorite pair of jeans by sitting on the ground.



The Spinners



    For those of you who do not like the idea of being outside all day long, the Spinners will be performing at the MSU Riley Center downtown tonight at 7:30 p.m.

    Hitting the charts for the first time in 1961, this talented group gained popularity in the early to mid-1970s. Henry Fambrough, Bobbie Smith, Charlton Washington, Marvin Taylor and Jessie Robert Peck will be taking the audience back to their years of soul and R&B hits.

    Ticket prices range from $38 to $44 and can be purchased online at www.msurileycenter.com.

    With so much going on this weekend, there is no reason to sit in the house and catch up on "Dancing with the Stars" or "Glee." Take a vote from the family and enjoy one or more of the many events Meridian is hosting today.