The Great American Cleanup, sponsored by Keep Pike County Beautiful, will lead off activities for the Pike County Azalea Festival, which runs March 24 through April 5.
The cleanup will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 8, and all citizens of the county are asked to help clean up their lawns and street areas in advance of the festival, which brings tourists to see the lighted azaleas and other flowers.
Trash bags will be available on March 8 at the Railroad Depot pavilion in downtown McComb, the Summit Fire Station on Laurel Street, the Magnolia Community Center on South Cherry Street and at Osyka Park on Railroad Boulevard.
For more information, call Sue White at 684-3628, Nancy Lamb at 276-9736, B.J. Chaplain at 783-6572 or Jackie Ard at 542-0069.
The McComb Garden Club’s 50th annual Lighted Azalea Trail will be held from dusk until 9 each night from March 16 through April 6. All Pike County residents are encouraged to light their businesses and yards during the height of the azalea blooming season. Lights will focus on azaleas as well as flowering trees and other spring plantings.
Civic and cultural clubs, along with individuals, are urged to participate. Each of the geographic competition areas will have designated winners.
Here’s a lineup of other activities:
• The first Azalea Tennis Tournament, sanctioned by the U.S. Tennis Association, will be held at Fernwood Country club at 9 a.m. March 22-23. Cost is $40 per person. Call Jon Stitt at 684-6971 or Fern Crossley at 249-0823 or 810-4072.
• Black History Gallery open house is 1 to 4 p.m. March 26-28 and April 2-4. The gallery, at 819 Wall St., McComb, is home to a collection of artifacts of African and African-American history. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Call Hilda Casin at 684-1130 or Alvin Hogan at 684-2798.
• Salute to the Railroad Retirees Club will be held at the McComb City Railroad Depot Museum, 108 N. Railroad Blvd., from noon to 4 p.m. March 24 through April 5, showcasing railroad memorabilia. For group tour information, call Bobby Bellipanni at 684-6487 or Trudy Berger at 276-2412.
• Gulf/South Gallery, 228 Fifth Ave., McComb, will host gallery artists exhibiting paintings of flowers and landscapes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 24 through April 5. Call Lynn Wells at 684-9470.
• First Bank Azalea Festival luncheon is noon March 25. A light lunch will be provided by Broadway Deli at The Courtyard at 517 S. Railroad Blvd., McComb. Felder Rushing will speak. Cost is $5. Tickets are available at all First Bank branches, with a March 18 deadline. Call 249-4556.
• Upstairs/Downtown: A Depot District Home Tour is 4 to 8 p.m. March 25 and is sponsored by the McComb Main Street Association. The second annual tour will feature historic commercial buildings that have been converted into urban dwellings. Cost is $10 per person. Tickets will be available at the Pike County Chamber of Commerce in McComb and at each building on the tour — 124 N. Broadway and 107 and 232 Main St.
• Summit Garden Club Flower Show and Home Tour, sponsored by the Summit Garden Club, is 1 to 4 p.m. March 26. The home and grounds of Dr. and Mrs. W.E. Moore, 109 Grove St., Summit, will be open for tours. Tea and cookies will be served.
• Pike County Arts Council’s Juried Art Show and Sale is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 27-28. Works by local artists will be judged and featured at Pike National Bank, 350 Rawls Drive, McComb. Admission is free. Artist entry fee is $10. Call Sharon White at 684-5229.
• Flower Lovers Club’s 11th annual Festival of Flowers is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 27 at the Pike National Bank Community Room. Area garden club members, florists and persons who love to create beauty with flowers will exhibit arrangements. Refreshments will be served, and admission is free. The show is not judged. Call Jane Beacham at 684-3294 for details.
• Wine Tasting with hors d’oeuvres will be sponsored by the Episcopal Church of the Mediator-Redeemer at 6 p.m. March 27. The event will be led by local wine educator Michael Cameron, owner of Cork & Cask, and will be held at 215 N. Broadway in McComb. Tickets are $25 per person, and reservations are required because of limited seating. Tickets are available at Gillis Drug Store in McComb or Dr. George Leggett’s dental office in Magnolia, or by calling 567-2588.
• Running Through the Azaleas, sponsored by the McComb Rotary Club and McComb Garden Club, at 8 a.m. March 29. Registration begins at 7 a.m., and the race starts in Edgewood Park on North Street at 8. Registration fee is $15 before the event and $20 on the day of the race. Call Rachel Wilson Michel at 684-6700 for details.
• How Great the Art in Osyka, sponsored by Keep Osyka Beautiful, is 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. March 29 at the historic Osyka Methodist Church, on First Street North. Area artists will display their works. The free event will feature area speakers throughout the day, including Bess Simmons, who will tell stories and reminisce about days past; and Dr. Luke Lampton, who will give an Osyka history presentation. Call 542-0069 or 542-3301.
• Azalea Princesses on Parade, sponsored by the McComb Garden Club, is dusk until 8 p.m. March 29 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John H. “Bubber” White, 2701 Seminole Drive in McComb. In remembrance of the early years of the garden club and Lighted Azalea Trail, the princesses of the 2008 court will be dressed in long gowns and standing among the azaleas on the White lawn. Admission is free.
• Cystic Fibrosis Charity Golf Tournament is 10:30 a.m. March 31 at Fernwood Country Club. Cost for the seventh annual event is $100 per person or $400 per team. Registration is 10:30 a.m., and tee time is 11:45. The four-man scramble will include lunch and an awards reception. Proceeds will be used for cystic fibrosis research. Call Anna Ruth Brumfield at 876-2552.
• McComb Garden Club Azalea Court coronation is 6 p.m. March 31, recognizing outstanding high school seniors in a formal outdoor ceremony at Edgewood Park. A king and queen will be crowned.
• Art a la Carte is 4 to 8 p.m. April 1 in McComb’s Depot District. Art galleries will toast their special Azalea Festival exhibits with food and drink, plus a chance to meet the artists. Admission is free. Paintings, sculptures, pottery and more will be on display at Japonica Gallery, 119 N. Sixth St.; Edgewood Gallery, 530 W. Georgia Ave.; Gulf/South Gallery, 228 Fifth Ave.; and Studio of Art & Design, 325 N. Front St. Call Robinn Daughdrill at 249-3335.
• Magnolia Azalea Tour, sponsored by the Magnolia/South Pike Area Chamber of Commerce, is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 2 and will feature a bus tour, two home tours and lunch. Cost is $25, and reservations are required. Call Dottie Burt at 783-5045 or the Magnolia chamber at 783-5211.
• Magnolia Garden Club’s annual garden show will be held in the historic Vaughn House, 265 W. Railroad Ave. in Magnolia, from 1:30 to 5 p.m. April 2. Rooms will be decorated with floral arrangements made especially for judging. Call Betsy Harrell at 248-5295.
• Taste of the Arts, sponsored by McComb Electric Supply Company, is 6:30 p.m. April 3 at 119 Front St. Participants in the cooking class will receive instructions on preparing easy recipes that can be presented with style. Ann Carruth Jackson, local chef, will lead the class. Cost is $35 and includes a light supper. Call early for reservations at 684-1161. Class size is limited to 15 people.
• Magnolia’s Evening in Lights, sponsored by the City of Magnolia and the Magnolia Beautification Committee, will be 6 to 9 p.m. April 4 in North Railroad Park. The evening will offer a candlelight night of music and food under the oaks and lighted azaleas. Pat Cornacchione’s Swing Band will be featured, and dinner will be catered by Smithie Buie. Rain site is the Magnolia Community Center on South Cherry Street. Tickets are $10 and available at First Bank, Pike National Bank and Citizens Bank in Magnolia. Call 783-6572 or 783-5915.
• Arts and Crafts Spring Fling, sponsored by the Osyka Civic Club, is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 5 in downtown Osyka, featuring arts and crafts, food and a chili cook-off. Admission is free. Entry fees for vendors and chili contest will be charged. Call Brandy Dickerson at 783-0004 for registration information.
• Railroad Brick Memorial dedication in downtown McComb is 10 a.m. April 5, along with a celebration of McComb’s 136th birthday. Reserved parking will be available for the elderly and handicapped. A reception will follow at the depot on Railroad Boulevard.
• Family Day in Edgewood Park, sponsored by the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5. The day will be filled with family activities, such as a pet show, carnival games, face painting, jumpers, music, food and more fun. Call the chamber at 684-2291. If it rains, the event will be held in the Depot garage.
• Pet Show, sponsored by the McComb Animal Hospital, is 10 a.m. till noon April 5 at Edgewood Park. Pet lovers may bring their cats and dogs dressed to impress. There will be multiple categories and one overall winner. Registration is $3 and the show begins at 8:45 a.m. Each pet should have proper documentation showing current vaccinations. Call the animal hospital for pre-registration at 684-1581. If it rains, the show will be held at the Depot garage.
• City of McComb Recreation Department will host fun and games and face painting from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5. Games include ring toss, bean bag throw, duck pond, go-fish and more.
• Ruby Dee Film Festival, sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, is 4 p.m. April 5 at Southwest Mississippi Community College in the Horace Holmes Student Union. The red-carpet event will be filled with azaleas and cultural arts, along with a film featuring Ruby Dee. Attire is semi-formal. Hors d’oeuvres will be served, and door prizes will be given away. Tickets are $10 and available by calling Lynn Gilmore at 250-1654. owner of Cork & Cask, and will be held at 215 N. Broadway in McComb. Tickets are $25 per person, and reservations are required because of limited seating. Tickets are available at Gillis Drug Store in McComb or Dr. George Leggett’s dental office in Magnolia, or by calling 567-2588.
• The McComb Rotary Club and McComb Garden Club will host the fifth annual 5K Running Through the Azaleas at 8 a.m. March 29. Registration begins at 7 a.m., and the race starts in Edgewood Park on North Street at 8. Registration fee is $15 before the event and $20 on the day of the race. Call Rachel Wilson Michel at 684-6700 for details.
• How Great the Art in Osyka, sponsored by Keep Osyka Beautiful, is 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. March 29 at the historic Osyka Methodist Church, on First Street North. Area artists, in all types of media, will display their work. The free event will feature area speakers throughout the day, including Bess Simmons, who will offer stories and reminisce about days past; and Dr. Luke Lampton, who will give an Osyka history presentation. Call 542-0069 or 542-3301.
• McComb Garden Club’s second annual Azalea Princesses on Parade will be held from dusk until 8 p.m. March 29 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Bubber White, 2701 Seminole Drive in McComb. In remembrance of the early years of the garden club and Lighted Azalea Trail, the princesses of the 2008 court will be dressed in long gowns and standing among the azaleas on the White lawn. Admission is free.
• Cystic Fibrosis Charity Golf Tournament is 10:30 a.m. March 31 at Fernwood Country Club. Cost for the seventh annual event is $100 per person or $400 per team. Registration is 10:30 a.m., and tee time is 11:45. The four-man scramble will include lunch and an awards reception. Proceeds will be used for cystic fibrosis research. Call Anna Ruth Brumfield at 876-2552.
• McComb Garden Club Azalea Court coronation is 6 p.m. March 31, recognizing outstanding high school seniors in a formal outdoor ceremony at Edgewood Park. A king and queen will be crowned.
• Art a la Carte is 4 to 8 p.m. April 1 in McComb’s Depot District. Art galleries will toast their special Azalea Festival exhibits with food and drink, plus a chance to meet the artists. Admission is free. Paintings, sculptures, pottery and more will be on display at Japonica Gallery, 119 N. Sixth St.; Edgewood Gallery, 530 W. Georgia Ave.; Gulf/South Gallery, 228 Fifth Ave.; and Studio of Art & Design, 325 N. Front St. Call Robinn Daughdrill at 249-3335.
• Magnolia Azalea Tour, sponsored by the Magnolia/South Pike Area Chamber of Commerce, is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 2 and will feature a bus tour, two home tours and lunch. Cost is $25, and reservations are required by calling Dottie Burt at 783-5045 or the Magnolia chamber at 783-5211.
• Magnolia Garden Club’s annual garden show will be held in the historic Vaughn House, 265 W. Railroad Avenue in Magnolia, from 1:30 to 5 p.m. April 2. Rooms will be decorated with floral arrangements made especially for judging. Call Betsy Harrell at 248-5295.
• Taste of the Arts, sponsored by McComb Electric Supply Company, is 6:30 p.m. April 3 at 119 Front St., McComb. Participants in the cooking class will receive instructions on preparing easy recipes that can be presented with style. Ann Carruth Jackson, local chef, will lead the class. Cost is $35 and includes a light supper. Call early for reservations at 684-1161. Class size is limited to 15 people.
• Magnolia’s Evening in Lights, sponsored by the City of Magnolia and the Magnolia Beautification Committee, will be 6 to 9 p.m. April 4 in North Railroad Park. The evening will offer a candlelight night of music and food under the oaks and lighted azaleas. Pat Cornacchione’s Swing Band will be featured, and dinner will be catered by Smithie Buie. Rain site is the Magnolia Community Center on South Cherry Street. Tickets are $10 and available at First Bank, Pike National Bank and Citizens Bank in Magnolia. Call 783-6572 or 783-5915.
• Second annual Arts and Crafts Spring Fling, sponsored by the Osyka Civic Club, is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 5 in downtown Osyka, featuring arts and crafts, food and a chili cook-off. Admission is free. Entry fees for vendors and chili contest will be charged. Call Brandy Dickerson at 783-0004 for registration information.
• Railroad Brick Memorial dedication in downtown McComb is 10 a.m. April 5, along with a celebration of McComb’s 136th birthday. Reserved parking will be available for the elderly and handicapped. A reception will follow at the depot on Railroad Boulevard.
• Family Day in Edgewood Park, sponsored by the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5. The day will be filled with family activities, such as a pet show, carnival games, face painting, jumpers, music, food and more fun. Call the chamber at 684-2291. If it rains, the event will be held in the Depot garage.
• Pet Show, sponsored by the McComb Animal Hospital, is 10 a.m. till noon April 5. Pet lovers may bring their cats and dogs dressed to impress. There will be multiple categories and one overall winner. Registration is $3 and the show begins at 8:45 a.m. each pet should have proper documentation showing current vaccinations. Call the animal hospital for pre-registration at 684-1581. If it rains, the show will be held at the Depot garage.
• City of McComb Recreation Department will host fun and games and face painting from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5. Games include ring toss, bean bag throw, duck pond, go-fish and more.
• Ruby Dee Film Festival, sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, is 4 p.m. April 5 at Southwest Mississippi Community College in the Horace Holmes Student Union. The red-carpet event will be filled with azaleas and cultural arts, along with a film featuring actress Ruby Dee. Attire is semi-formal. Hors d’oeuvres will be served, and door prizes will be given away. Tickets are $10 and available by calling Lynn Gilmore at 250-1654.
