Children’s Creative Writing Class

Led by Irene Graham; 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. March 18 (during Vicksburg Warren School District’s intercession week); $35 per person for ages 10-14; bring lunch; registration required, limited to 20; Southern Cultural Heritage Center, 601-631-2997, info@southernculture.org, www.thecreativewritersworkshop.com.

River Kids spring session

Free, after-school art program by Southern Cultural Heritage Center; kicks off Jan. 29, runs 3:45 to 5 p.m. each Thursday; open to children in first through sixth grades, space limited; Kathy Gibson and Karen Biedenharn, instructors; 601-631-2997 or info@southernculture.org.

Jewish Cinema South

Regional network of film festivals; sponsored by Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life; Jackson schedule (all shown at Millsaps College Recital Hall): “Sixty-Six,” 7 p.m. Jan. 21; “The Counterfeiters,” 7 p.m. Jan 22; “Arranged,” 7 p.m. Jan. 24; “Playing with Lior,” 2 p.m. Jan. 25; info: 601-362-6357 or www.isjl.org.

Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi raffle

2008 Honda Civic from Jackson-area dealership Patty Peck Honda; tickets (tax-deductible): $25 for one, $100 for five, $200 for 10; drawing March 26, winner doesn’t have to be present; www.msdiabetes.org or 601-957-7878.

‘Gold in the Hills’ auditions

Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20; needed for 1890s melodrama: actors and actresses ages 6 through adult and singers and dancers ages teen through adult, play requires a few parts for children and numerous parts for teens and adults, can-can dancers must be in at least ninth grade; production dates: Friday and Saturday nights, March 13-April 4; Vicksburg Theatre Guild’s Parkside Playhouse, 101 Iowa Ave; 601-636-0471 or www.e-vtg.com.

‘The Fantasticks’ auditions

Jan. 23-24; needed for timeless tale of lovers found and lost are six men able to play characters 15-24, 18 or older, 30-50, 40-60 and 50 or older; one women able to play a character 14-22; and one non-gender-specific character 18 or older; production dates: April 23-26 and 30 and May 1-3; Vicksburg Theatre Guild’s Parkside Playhouse, 101 Iowa Ave.; 601-636-0471 or www.e-vtg.com.

Children’s Quilting Workshop

Taught at Southern Cultural Heritage Center by quilting professional Diane Jordan; 8:30 a.m.-noon Jan. 7 and March 18, during the Vicksburg Warren School District’s intercession weeks; mothers welcome, students will create charm square quilt; $65 per child per workshop, includes a quilting fabric kit; participants must bring small scissors, seam ripper, neutral thread, large zip-top bag, sewing machine; few machines for rent for $20; space limited to 12; 601-631-2997 or info@southernculture.org.

Beginner Adult Quilting Workshop

Taught at Southern Cultural Heritage Center by quilting professional Diane Jordan; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 17; $190 for SCHC members and $220 for nonmembers (fee could vary if participant owns required supplies); deadline to register: Jan. 7; 601-631-2997 or info@southernculture.org.

Writing Seminars

Led by Irene Graham, founder of The Creative Writer’s Workshop; fiction writing: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 19-21; memoir writing: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 22-24; $530 for Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation members, $545 for nonmembers; space limited, reservations required; 601-631-2997 or info@southernculture.org.

Writers Conference

Led by Michael Garrett, thriller author Stephen King’s first editor; March 7-8; Southern Cultural Heritage Center; $60 SCHC and Mississippi Writers Guild members, $65 nonmembers; info and registration: 601-631-2997, info@southernculture.org.

Experimental Watermedia Group Exhibit

Show on display through New Year’s Eve at Mississippi Library Commission, 3381 Eastwood Drive, Jackson; free; can be viewed 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; www.mlc.lib.ms.us.

‘Speak Up!’ A Communication Class for Kids

Day camp sponsored by Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation; 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Jan. 6-8 (during Vicksburg Warren School District intercession week); for children in fourth-sixth grade; fee: $135 per child, includes supplies, snacks; students must bring lunch; space limited to 30, registration required; led by professional motivational speakers Sharonda Medina and Kim Stribling; info: www.saylegacy.com, 601-631-2997 or info@southernculture.org.

ORAG January artist

West Monroe resident Donna McGee; paintings will be on display through Jan. 31; Ouachita River Art Gallery, 308 Trenton St., West Monroe; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; free; 318-322-2380.

Biedenharn Museum & Gardens Trip

Monroe museum taking reservations for May 15-22, 2009, trip to Chelsea Flower Show in London; Biedenharn Executive Director Ralph Calhoun, 318-387-5281; www.bmuseum.org.

Grand National Watercolor Exhibition

Will feature “Expectation” by Vicksburg Art Association member Elke Briuer; Mississippi Museum of Art, 380 S. Lamar St., Jackson; through Jan. 4; hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday; $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, $3 for students ages 6 through college, free for ages younger than 5 and museum members; group rates for 20 or more: $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens, $1 for students; 601-960-1515, www.msmuseumofart.org.

Motor Trend International Auto Show

10 a.m.-9 p.m. Jan. 23-24, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 25; Capital City Convention Center in Jackson; one of 24 shows across the nation; www.motortrendautoshow.com, 800-345-1487.

LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT

BB Secrist

Piano, vocals; Ameristar’s Casino Cabaret, 4116 Washington St.; Tuesday; free; 601-638-1000.

Sinamon Leaf

Variety; Ameristar’s Casino Cabaret, 4116 Washington St.; tonight; free; 601-638-1000.

New Year’s Eve

* The Showroom at DiamondJacks — Party at 10 p.m.; free; 3990 Washington St., 877-711-0677.

* Ameristar’s Bottleneck Blues Bar —  Meet the Press, variety; Dr. Zarr’s Funkmonster, variety/funk; free; 4116 Washington St., 601-638-1000.

* Ameristar’s Casino Cabaret — BB Secrist, piano and vocals; free; 4116 Washington St., 601-638-1000.