Family-friendly
HAPPENINGS !
Looking for some fun activities for the whole family to enjoy ? Check out all of these local events coming to Meridian .
May 18th TOUCH A TRUCK Highland Park
Kids get the chance to climb into the driver ’ s seat of a fire truck , police car , an ambulance , a dump truck and a variety of big rigs during a Touch-a-Truck event in Highland Park . Face painting and great food will also be available . 10 a . m . -noon , free , meridianms . org / events
May 18th FREEDOM RUN 5K Downtown Meridian
Lace up your running shoes and join the East Mississippi Veterans Foundation for the 5K Freedom run , walk and fun run . Opening ceremonies start at 7:30 a . m . at the World War I Doughboy Monument in downtown Meridian followed by the 5K run , walk and fun run at 8 a . m . Registration is $ 30 for the run and walk and $ 25 for the fun run and for military members , veterans and first responders . Registration is open online at time2run . net . Proceeds will go to the East Mississippi Veterans Park Project . 7:30 a . m ., $ 25- $ 30 , downtownmeridian . org
May 23rd BETTER THAN EZRA CONCERT MSU Riley Center
Check out an act that Billboard Magazine calls one of the 100 Greatest of All Time Alternative Artists . Based out of New Orleans , Better Than Ezra brings its alternative hits to the Riley Center . 7 p . m ., $ 25- $ 75 , msurileycenter
May 30th AN EVENING WITH NATASHA TRETHEWEY Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Center
Spend an evening with the 19th U . S . Poet Laureate and Pultizer Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey as she reads from her memoir , “ The House of Being ( Why I Write ).” A reception with light hors d ’ oeuvres will begin at 5:30 p . m . followed by the book reading and Q & A at 6 p . m . 5:30-7:30 p . m ., free admission , msarts . org
May 31st STATE GAMES OPENING CEREMONIES City Hall Lawn
Join the parade of athletes as they march through downtown for the opening ceremonies of the State Games of Mississippi . Food and beverage booths will be available starting at 5 p . m ., followed by the parade at 7 p . m . and the lighting of the State Games torch . The ceremonies will conclude with a fireworks show at 8 p . m . 5-9 p . m ., free , downtownmeridian . org
June 1st EARTH ’ S BOUNTY Singing Brakeman Park
Shop for fresh vegetables and fruits , homemade baked goods , canned vegetables and jellies , craft and gift items , fresh flowers and plants and more at the first-of-the-month farmers market in downtown Meridian . 8 a . m . - noon , meridianms . org
June 3rd-June 7th SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR Mississippi Children ’ s Museum-Meridian
Does your little one or grandchild love books ? Then check out the Scholastic Book Fair to be held at MCM-Meridian June 3-7 with 25 % of every purchase going to directly support the mission of the children ’ s museum . Peruse the book selections while your child checks out the museum exhibits or stop in and shop on your lunch- break . An online shop will be available on the museum website June 3-16 . 9 a . m . -5 p . m ., mschildrensmuseum . org / meridian
June 4th-July 27th 50TH ANNUAL BI-STATE ART COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION Meridian Museum of Art
An annual juried exhibition sponsored by the museum , featuring the works of artists from Mississippi and Alabama . The works will be on display during regular museum hours , 11 a . m . until 4 p . m ., Tuesday through Saturday . A closing reception will be held July 27 with the artists , friends , families , and art enthusiasts , and awards will be announced at 3 p . m . meridianmuseum . org
June 6th MINGLE AT THE MUSEUM Mississippi Children ’ s Museum-Meridian
MCM-Meridian ’ s signature summer fundraiser , Mingle at the Museum , is an event where adults , ages 21 and up , get the chance to mingle in the museum ’ s My Fantastical Backyard for an after hours gathering featuring live music , festive fair food , carnival games and plenty of opportunities to win prizes . 6-9 p . m ., mschildrensmuseum . org / meridian
38 • MERIDIAN LIFE