Springtime beauty will be in the spotlight this month as the annual Pike County Azalea Festival kicks off with activities ranging from the Lighted Azalea Trail and Festival of Flowers, to a juried art show, city fair, museum openings and other special spring events.
New this year is the McComb Main Street Association’s Ironwood Market, “Art on the Tracks,” on Railroad Boulevard from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 2.
The Azalea Festival, sponsored by the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, officially begins March 21.
The busy day includes a chamber kickoff celebration at Edgewood Interiors from 2 to 4 p.m., where horticulturist, author and radio personality Felder Rushing will sign copies of his books.
From noon to 4 p.m., the McComb Railroad Museum will sponsor the exhibit, “Bygone Days of the McComb Roundhouse, Turntable and Steam Locomotive.” From 1912 until 1959, the brick ICRR roundhouse stood as a landmark to McComb’s history. The museum will provide a display of roundhouse photographs as well as the original plates from the turntable.
Also on the 21st, Cooking with Class IV — A Mediterranean Tour,” will be held at 6 p.m. at McComb Electric Supply Co. in downtown McComb. Hosted by Bill Goodwin, this will be the fourth in the popular cooking series, where participants will sample Mediterranean flavors. Tickets are $45 and are available at McComb Electric, by calling 684-1160 or by e-mailing tickets@mccombelectric.com.
A big tourist draw is always the McComb Garden Club’s Lighted Azalea Trail. This year, garden club members and friends encourage all residents in the county to participate by lighting their businesses and spotlighting their azalea blooms, as well as other flowering trees and plans. The 53rd annual lighted trail begins March 21 and continues through April 3 from dusk until 9 each night.
The garden club divides the county into numerous competition areas, with recognition given to the winners in each division.
Here’s a rundown of other Azalea Festival events:
March 1 - March 31
• Youth Art Month exhibit at the McComb Library includes artwork from students at South Pike, North Pike and McComb school districts. The exhibit is sponsored by Charles Crossley’s McComb Studio of Art & Design.
• McComb City Railroad Depot Museum is open from noon to 4 p.m. on weekdays, with a huge variety of railroad memorabilia on display.
March 21 - April 3
• Gulf/South Gallery, 228 Fifth Ave., McComb, is celebrating its 40th year with Mississippi artists and craftsmen from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, March 22:
• Blues & Barbecue at The Ice House Courtyard from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. First Bank is sponsor. Plates are $5 each and may be paid for at the door. Visitors can relax and enjoy the blues while eating barbecue indoors or outdoors at the Courtyard.
• Black History Gallery, 819 Wall St., McComb, will be open from 1 to 6 p.m. for tours of its African-American collection. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Contact gallery owner Hilda Casin at 684-1130 or Alvin Hogan at 684-2798
Wednesday, March 23
• Summit Garden Club Flower Show, “Flowers Across America,” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Horace Holmes Student Union at Southwest Mississippi Community College, which will celebrate its 77th anniversary. Call Nancy Holmes at 248-7058 for more information.
Thursday, March 24
• Flower Lovers Club present its 14th annual Festival of Flowers from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Community Room of Pike National Bank on Rawls Drive in McComb. Exhibits will be shown by area garden club members, florists and folks who love to create beauty with flowers. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free. Call Linda Young at 684-9736.
• 16th annual Pike County Arts Council’s Juried Art Show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pike National Bank on Rawls Drive. The show and sale is conducted by a professional judge and will feature works of local artists. Admission is free, and entry fee is $20. Call Bob Hensarling at 684-3243 for information. The art show continues on March 25.
• Black History Gallery, 819 Wall St., will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. for tours of its African-American collection.
Friday, March 25
• The Azalea Princess on Parade, sponsored by the McComb Garden Club, is dusk to 8 p.m. at the Brentwood House on Delaware Avenue in McComb. The event features former Azalea Court participants, who will be dressed in formal gowns and standing among abundant azaleas. Admission is free.
Saturday, March 26
• An official Country Music Trail Marker will be unveiled at 10 a.m. honoring the late Jerry Clower, a comedian from Amite County and member of the Grand Old Opry. For information on the state marker ceremony, call Amite County Chancery Clerk Ronny Taylor at 657-8022.
• Camellia City Civic Club Azalea Court coronation is 4 p.m. at Edgewood Park in McComb. The event will honor outstanding students from Pike and Amite counties. Call Ciciley Watts at 684-5641.
Monday, March 28
• The 9th annual Cystic Fibrosis Charity Golf Tournament will be held at Fernwood Country Club. Cost is $100 per person or $400 per team. The four-man scramble includes lunch and award reception after the tournament. Proceeds will be used to provide research for a cure for cystic fibrosis. For information, call Anna Ruth Brumfield at 876-2552. Registration is 10:30 a.m. and tee time is 11:45 a.m.
• McComb Garden Club Azalea Court coronation is 6 to 8 p.m. at Edgewood Park. Outstanding Pike County high school seniors are recognized in a formal outdoor ceremony, with special honor given to the king and queen.
Tuesday, march 29
• Block Party — Business After Hours will be 5 to 7 p.m. at cable One, Gulf/South Gallery, McComb Printing and Simmons Security. For information, call the chamber office at 684-2291.
• Black History Gallery, 819 Wall St., McComb, will be open from 1 to 6 p.m. for tours of its African-American collection.
Wednesday, March 30
• Magnolia Garden Club’s annual flower show is 1 to 5 p.m. at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Swindle, 510 N. Clark Ave. in Magnolia. Evelyn Adams is the contact at 783-3404.
• The Magnolia Tourism Committee will offering the Magnolia Historic Tour and Lunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event includes a bus tour, two home tours, a visit to the Magnolia Garden Club Flower Show and lunch. Cost is $25 per person, and reservations are required. Call Carol Thomas at 783-3456.
• The McComb City Fair will be held March 30 through April 3 at the McComb Sports Park on South Magnolia Street. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m. on Friday, noon to 11:30 p.m. Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday. The event, sponsored by the city’s Department of Community Relations and Tourism, will feature amusement rides, fair food, carnival games and a fireworks display on Friday. School day is Thursday. Musical performances will be held Friday through Sunday, and arts bazaar will be held Friday and Saturday, and a Bo Diddley display will be part of the event.
• Garden Tour at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Will Austin, 8150 McComb-Holmesville Road, McComb is 1 to 6 p.m.
Thursday, March 31
• First Bank’s Azalea Festival luncheon is at noon, with a light lunch provided by Broma’s Deli at St. Andrew’s Mission Senior Center on Main Street in McComb. Cost is $8. Speakers this year are David Yarborough, president of the Pike County Master Gardeners, and Michael Guttuso. Tickets are available at all First Bank offices and should be purchased by March 25. For information, call 249-4556.
• Art a la Carte is 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., sponsored by the Southwest Mississippi Art Guild, will be held at Brentwood on Delaware Avenue. Visitors may view — and buy — artwork made by guild members, who will display more than 100 pieces of art. On display will be paintings, handmade pottery and designed jewelry. Admission is free. Contact Diane Burris at 567-2360.
• Gallery open houses celebrating Art a la Carte, will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. at Japonica Gallery, 119 N. 6th St., Gulf/South Gallery, 228 5th Ave., McComb Studio of Art and Design, 325 N. Front St.; and Edgewood Interiors, 530 W. Georgia Ave.
• Black History Gallery, 819 Wall St., will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. for tours of its African-American collection.
Friday, April 1
• Magnolia’s Evening in Lights is 6 to 9 p.m. in Railroad Park in front of the depot. Sponsors are the City of Magnolia, the Magnolia Garden Club and the Magnolia Beautification Committee. The evening will offer candlelight dinner under the oaks and lighted azaleas, with entertainment provided. If it rains, the event moves to the Magnolia Community Center on South Cherry Street. Tickets are $12 and available in Magnolia at First Bank, Pike National Bank and Citizen’s Bank. For information, call 783-5211 or 783-5915.
Saturday, April 2
• Ironwood Market, “Art on the Tracks,” 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sponsor is the McComb Main Street Association, with local art and music featured throughout the day. For information, call David or Edie Varnado at 551-8744.
• Spring Fling, sponsored by McComb Nursing and Rehab from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the walking track behind Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center in McComb. The vent will include live entertainment, food, bingo, a barbecue cook-off, vendors, cake walk, prizes and garage sale. All proceeds go to Relay for Life. Bring lawn chairs.
• Fired up Feathers! chicken cooking contest at the McComb City Fair at the McComb Sports Park. Call the Mccomb Department of Community Relations and Tourism office at 684-8664, extension 106, for times of each event. Participants are invited to bring their best recipes, but spaces are limited. The winner will receive a prize and free entry into the 2012 chicken cooking contest. Winners will be decided by public vote and judges’ choice.
• Other events at the fair that day will be pageant fun, including the non-judged Bitty Beauty Procession for children up to age 2. Dressed-up tots will parade on stage, and each child is a winner. The Little Mr. and Miss Gizzard Pageant is for age 3 to 5, and every child is a winner.
• The Feathered Fashion Frenzy is for ages 6 to 11. Grab a feathered accessory, be creative, and model to a tune. Each participant receives a small prize.
• The Last Chickin Kickin’ “Funky Chicken” adult dance contest also will be held, with a prize going to the “last chickin kickin’. ”
Sunday, April 3
• Gulf/South Gallery will have an open house featuring the works of Ava Madison from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
