ON THE GO: Jimmie Rodgers Music Fest highlights busy weekend

Published 3:30 pm Wednesday, May 1, 2019

There are many activities planned through this weekend in and around Meridian to delight and entertain.

The 2019 Jimmie Rodgers Festival opens at 7:30 Thursday night with a concert by St. Paul and the Broken Bones at the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, located at 2155 Front St. in Meridian.

There will be a Jimmie Rodgers Festival talent show beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday in conjunction with Earth’s Bounty at Singing Brakeman Park on Front Street near the train station.

The festival activities will close out Saturday night with Meridian’s own singer-songwriter Steve Forbert performing at 7:30 p.m. at the Temple Theater located at 2320 8th St. Opening for Forbert will be Nashville singer-songwriter Paul Burch.

From 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Forbert will be honored by The MAX when he receives a star in the Walk of Fame and hosts a book signing. This event is free and open to the public.

The MAX will present its second annual “An Evening at The MAX” from 7-11:59 p.m. Friday. Guests will enjoy an evening of great company, an amazing showband, delectable food and drink and great art. There will also be a silent auction and live auction, featuring exclusive trips, dinners and art.

This is The MAX’s sole fundraising event each year and raises critical funds to support exhibitions and outreach programs that are offered in Meridian and the state. For more information, call Nicole Ethridge at 601-581-1550.

This is also the last weekend to view the major traveling exhibition, Jim Henson Imagination Unlimited.

On Saturday, The MAX will host another Mississippi Day honoring Henson’s hometown of Leland. There will be free refreshments, photo booth and door prizes. Free kids make + take workshop. Admission is $5 adults, $4 youth and kids under five get in free. The make + take workshop will feature the Star Wars Theme.

A Family Workshop: Balloon Poetry will be held from 3-4 p.m. Sunday at The MAX. This children’s event is free and open to the public.

Other options

• Whynot Motorsports Park will host school bus races Saturday with gates opening at 4 p.m. and races starting at 7 p.m. There will be free grandstand admission for this event. The park is located at 4680 Old Highway 19 Southeast. For more information, call Phillip Hathcock at (205) 965-3070 or Rodney Wing at (601) 527-0084.

• Meridian Community College’s Community Band will pay tribute at 2 p.m. Sunday in the McCain Theater to those of the Greatest Generation as well as other courageous men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who have answered the call of duty in wars and conflicts. The event is free. As part of the patriotic salute the Meridian Naval Air Station Color Guard will present colors.

• If you love beignets then you won’t want to miss the Young Professionals of Meridian annual Beignet Breakfast at the Temple Theater from 7-10 a.m. Friday. Beignets are $10 a dozen or three beignets with a drink for $5.

• Have a green thumb for gardening? Then don’t miss the Spring Plant Sale by East Mississippi Master Gardeners at the Farmer’s Market on Front Street from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday. All plants are locally grown.

• The Town of Collinsville will host the 30th annual Collinsville Lively Arts Festival from 8:45 until 2:30 p.m. Saturday. This will be a homecoming with political speakers and musical entertainment throughout the day. There will also be dance performers, crafts and food vendors.