Fall becomes active with the start of a new school year — homework, footballs games band practices — and for Vicksburg and surrounding areas the season also ushers in events planned for people of all ages.
Mark your calendar for upcoming happenings.

Celebrity Waiter Dinner
• The fourth annual fundraising event for the American Cancer Society will be held Monday at the Bottleneck Blues Bar in Ameristar Casino. Cocktails will be served beginning at 6 p.m. and dinner begins at 7. Tickets are $45 per seat or $80 per couple. Call 601-636-6565 or 601-618-1060.

Classics in the Courtyard
• The seventh annual event at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center will kick off Oct. 17 and will run from noon to 1 p.m. for four Fridays. Lunch will be provided by local restaurants for $9, and reservations are required by 5 p.m. Thursdays. Each week will feature a different type of music. Call 601-631-2997 or visit www.southernculture.org.
The schedule:
• Oct. 17 — Maria Signa and Jim Robinson; Classic Pop and Country; Martin’s at Midtown
• Oct. 24 — Ralph Miller; Classic Rock and Pop Favorites; T’Beaux’s Blues Le Roux
• Oct. 31 — Patrick Smith; Classics Blues, Rock, Pop and Originals; Palmertree Catering
• Nov. 7 — Lee H. Abraham & the Boone Brothers; Classic Blues, Rock and Originals; Goldie’s Express
Other SCHF events include:
• Tuesday — 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Social Media Workshop; $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers; instructor, Mary Beth Lasseter; space is limited and reservations are required
• Sept. 21 — 5 to 6 p.m.; Ballroom dance lessons; Night Club Two-Step; $10; instructor, James Frechette
• Sept 22 — 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Tailgating workshop; $30 for members and $35 for nonmembers; instructor, William Furlong; space is limited and reservations are required

Daughters of the American Revolution
• The Ashmead chapter of the DAR has planned a bell-ringing ceremony to kick off Constitution week. The event begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Old Court House Museum, 1008 Cherry St. For more information, call 202-628-1776 or 601-629-7655.

Owning your Own Business Workshop
• The Vicksburg-Warren Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Hinds Community College and the Small Business Administration to offer the workshop, which will run from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at 2020 Mission 66. The cost is $15 for chamber members and $20 for nonmembers. Call 601-636-1012 or visit www.vicksburgchamber.org.

The Strand Theatre
• Special screenings of 12 short Charley Chaplin silent comedies will be shown at the theater, 717 Clay St. Advance tickets for a block of three films is $5 and $7 at the door and an advance pass to see all 12 films will be $15. Children 12 and younger may get in free if accompanied by an adult. Advance tickets are available at Highway 61 Coffeehouse, 1101 Washington St. For more information, call 601-529-7252.
Showtimes:
Saturday
• 3 p.m. — “The Floorwalker,” “The Fireman,” “The Vagabond”
• 5 p.m. “One A.M.,” “The Count,” “The Pawnshop”
Sept. 21
• 1 p.m. — “Behind the Screen,” “The Rink,” “Easy Street”
• 3 p.m. — “The Cure,” “The Immigrant,” “The Adventurer”

Bird watching
The Jackson Audubon Society has schedule a field trip and a JAS chapter meeting. Call 601-956-7444 or visit www.jacksonaudubonsociety.org.
The schedule:
• 9 a.m.-noon Saturday — Annual Hawk Migration Watch field trip; Vicksburg National Military Park, participants meet at Fort Hill; free, but there is a $8 park entrance fee per vehicle; Skip Anding, expert JAS birder
• 6:30 p.m. Sept 23 — JAS chapter meeting; Welty Library, 300 N. State St., Jackson; free

Mississippi College production
• “South Pacific” will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and Sept. 25-27 and at 2 p.m. Sept. 21 and 28 at the Jean Pittman Williams Recital Hall. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children and students with an ID card and are available online at mc.edu/marketplace. For more information, call 601-925-3440 or email serio@mc.edu.

Miss Mississippi Local Directors Association fundraiser
• A fashion show will begin at noon Saturday at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Tickets are $25 and are available at the Miss Mississippi Pageant office, 820 South St. and the Cricket Box, 3040 Halls Ferry Road. The show will feature the top 15 Miss Mississippi Pageant contestants, the top 10 Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Pageant contestants and their prince and princesses. Call 662-260-0711.

Book-signings
• Lorelei Books on Washington Street has scheduled a poetry reading, a fall mixer and a booksigning. Call 601-634-8624 or email service@loreleibooks.com
The schedule:
• 5-7 p.m. Sept. 23 — Lorelei’s Bibliophile Mixer
• 5 p.m. Oct. 4 — Poetry in the Lorelei Loft; “The Land Baron’s Sun”; Genaro Ky Ly Smith
• 1 p.m. Oct. 25 — Ben Wynne, “In Tune” Charley Patton, Jimmie Rodgers and Origins of American Music

Vicksburg Art Association
• The group has planned a membership drive and an art show at the Firehouse Gallery, 1204 Main St.
The schedule:
• 7 p.m. Sept. 23 —2014-15 Membership drive; free; theme, “Trashy Art”; 529-6312, jhalinski@gmail.com
• 7 p.m. Oct. 25 — Fall adult art show; free; 601-415-0934, randy.jolly.56@facebook.com

Shopping Extravaganza
• The Outlets at Vicksburg will host the third annual event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 27.
Featured will be discounts, giveaways, raffles, a wine-tasting and live entertainment. Admission is $20 per person, and registration will be from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Call 601-636-7434.

VNMP clean up day
• The Vicksburg National Military Park will hold a clean up day from 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 27 to help cut and clear brush and debris from the Bethlehem Cemetery, an historic African-American cemetery within the park’s interior. A pizza lunch will be provided in the U.S.S.Cairo picnic area and will include a presentation provided by the park’s interpretive staff. Call 601-619-2911 or visit www.nps.gov/vick/index.htm

Four Seasons of the Arts
• A candlelight concert featuring classic works by Brahms and Beethoven by the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra will begin at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at The Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal. The concert is free, but donations are welcome. Call 601-636-0542

Mississippi State Fair
• The 155th annual Mississippi State Fair will run Oct. 1-12 at the Mississippi Fairgrounds in Jackson. The fair will feature agricultural shows, children’s activities, special attractions, contests, food, rides and more. Musical acts this year will include Blue Oyster Cult, Hinder, Marshall Tucker Band, The Charlie Daniels Band and the Spinners. Call 601-353-0603 or visit www. mdac.state.ms.us.

Bricks and Spokes
• The Vicksburg Main Street Program will host the fifth annual bicycle ride beginning at 8 a.m. Oct. 4. The ride will feature 10-mile, 30-mile, and 50-mile routes with stops for drinks and snacks. Registration is $40 and is open to all skill levels. Call 601-634-4527 or visit www.bricksandspokes.racesonline.com or call.

Old Court House Flea Market
• The 31st annual event will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 4 and includes more than
200 arts, crafts and food booths. Call 601-636-0741 or visit societyhistorica@bellsouth.net.

Downtown Fall Festival
• The annual Vicksburg Main Street event will run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 4 and include sidewalk sales, children’s activities, exhibitions and music. For more information, call 601-634-4527 or email kimh@vicksburg.org

Attic Gallery
• The gallery on Washington Street will celebrate its 43rd year with an art show at 7 p.m. Oct. 10. More than 15 artists will be featured. Call 601-638-9221.
Over the River Run
• The 26th annual 5-mile run and walk will begin at 8 a.m. Oct. 11 at the old U.S. 80 Bridge over the Mississippi River. The event will also include a 1-mile fun run. Fees are $25 for individuals, $15 for children 10 and under, $55 for families of five and $75 for corporate or civic teams of three to five members. A $5 late fee will be charged after Oct. 1. Call 601-631-2997 or email info@southernculture.org.

Salvation Army Soup & Sandwich
• The 35th annual luncheon will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at Crawford Street United Methodist Church’s Wesley Hall.
Sponsored by the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, it will feature a silent auction and bake sale. Tickets are $8 in advance only. Call 903-263-9507 or visit vixsawa.weebly.com

Southern Heritage Air Foundation
• The group will offer shows at the Vicksburg Tallulah Airport, off Interstate 20 at exit 182. The cost is $10 per person or $20 a carload. For more information, visit www.southernheritageair.org;
The Schedule:
• Oct. 17 — 6:45 p.m., gates open at 4; a twilight show
• Oct 18 — 9 a.m.; Best Little Air Show in the World; includes Aeroshell Acrobatic team, historical military vehicles and a jet truck

Spooky Pooch Contest
• This Halloween costume contest for dogs benefits Paws Rescue will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Outlets at Vicksburg. Call 601-636-7434 or visit www.outletsatvicksburg.com.