Dumont Plaza is a popular spot to hang out in downtown Meridian, and starting this summer it will be even more so on the third Thursday of the month.

Starting with June 20, an evening of live music, art, book signings, dancing, food and beverages and family fun will be presented as 3rd Thursdays at Dumont Plaza.

“This is a new quality of life project presented by the Meridian Council for the Arts,” MCA Board member Leslie Lee said. “The idea is to bring the community together in Dumont Plaza on Thursday evenings, while showcasing musicians — local and out of town — have food and beverages, as well as other activities for free.”

Set from 5-8 p.m., each 3rd Thursday event will have a theme to represent the genre of music performed that evening. These will include country, New Orleans, The ‘80s, Jam Band and Latin. Performing at the June 20 event will be Meridian’s own Britt Gully and The Water Moccasins and Starkville-based husband and wife guitar-cello duo Honey Boy and Boots.

The arts section not only will include vendors, but also artist demonstrations.

“They’ll be clay potters demos, live painting demonstrations and more,” Lee said. “We plan to add more activities each month.”

Food trucks (burgers, chicken nuggets and other concession favorites) will be available, and beer and water also will be sold. And for the kids, a Kona Ice (shaved ice) truck will be set up.

Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on while enjoying the evening’s activities.

“Our goal is to make this a family-friendly, fun event that will get the people of the community back downtown to Dumont Plaza,” MCA President Sharon Pratt said. “We hope some of the downtown merchants will stay open a little longer for people to shop. And if those attending 3rd Thursdays don’t want to eat food truck food, they can always dine at the downtown restaurants or bring their own food.”

Dates for future 3rd Thursdays at Dumont Plaza are July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19 and Oct. 24. The October installment will be held at a later date to avoid conflicting with a previously scheduled event at Dumont Plaza, Lee said.

Sponsors for 3rd Thursdays at Dumont Plaza are the Paul and Sherry Broadhead Foundation, Magnolia Beverage Company, Mitchell Distributing and the Mississippi Arts Commission.

Pratt said the Meridian Council for the Arts hopes to extend 3rd Thursdays beyond October.

“This is going to be a fun and exciting new event for Meridian that we hope the people will enjoy and look forward to attending each month,” she said.

About MCA

The Meridian Council for the Arts, Inc. was designated the local arts agency for Meridian and Lauderdale County by the Meridian City Council and the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors in 1978. The Mission of the Meridian Council for the Arts is to foster and promote diverse art and cultural organizations, events, education and individual artists in Meridian and Lauderdale County, Mississippi, through leadership, partnership, collaboration, grants and services.