Let’s start with our Vicksburg Convention Center, Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation and the diligent organization and coordination of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitor’s Bureau of Vicksburg events for our community and our tourists together with our Vicksburg Main Street Program.

Every Wednesday Annette Kirklin, executive director of the Vicksburg Convention Center, Laura Beth Strickland, deputy director of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Stacey Mahoney, director of the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation, are live on FM107.7 and 1490 AM at 8:15 a.m. that is repeated the next hour. Every other Wednesday VTV streams them live on their Facebook page, as well as airing on Ch. 23 local cable or Ch. 99 on A&T U-verse.

VCC has done so well with events that many event coordinators book the following year. The USA Gymnastics Mississippi Meet will be held for the 1st time at VCC on March 7-10 and will bring 600-plus people per day. They have already booked the convention center for 2020. On March 26 through 28, the Technology Student Association State Convention will bring more than 1,000 people to our city. See Vicksburgconventioncenter.com for more information. Please note that the calendar on this site may have “available” dates, but VCC may be waiting for signed contracts for events on those dates.

The Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation has annual membership fees — individual $25 and family $35. Members receive email notifications, monthly newsletters and discounts on workshops and events. If there are not enough registrants for a workshop, it could be cancelled. On Feb. 26 and 28, the SCHF plans Kids in the Kitchen Mardi Gras; Feb. 28, the monthly Fort Saint Tercentennial Lecture Series; March 7 at 5:30 p.m. is Lebanese Cooking with Lana; and March 30 at 4 p.m. is the 4th Annual Raise the Roof Talent Competition. For more information, see southerncultural.org

VCC, VCVB, SCHF and the Vicksburg Main Street program are excited not only for the many visitor’s coming to our city for our events, but also the increase of 20 more boats docking in our city from 2018 to 2019, so far scheduled.

Vicksburg restaurants participate in reoccurring weekly events such as Karaoke, Bingo, Trivia, Family Feud, wine, beer and food menu events, such as Martin’s at Midtown, Jacques, 3 Way BBQ, Cottonwood Public House, Klondyke, the Biscuit Company and Beechwood. All have live music, as do LD’s, 10 South Rooftop Bar and Grill, The Anthony, and our casinos.

Reoccurring weekly events include Storytime at Lorelei Books; Storytime and crafts at the Warren County-Vicksburg Library; art, pottery and clay at Art at Heart; Parkside Playhouse has senior adult theater; art events and displays at The Attic Gallery; plays, productions and movies at Parkside Playhouse and The Strand Theater. Outside the Box Business Center offers computer program training and weekly AutoCad Design Workshops; and That’s So Cool arts and projects. For more events, see visitvicksburg.com/events and downtownvicksburg.org

Recently Cottonwood Public House partnered with Lorelei Books and began the Books and Brews Book Club. Its first meeting was Feb. 17. This book club will meet the third Sunday of the month. The next one is scheduled for March 17.

Our schools also put on wonderful productions, like the current one, Disney’s Newsies.

The city clerk schedules private and public events at the Vicksburg City Auditorium. Upcoming public events are: March 1 from 8 to 11 p.m., the 13th Annual Southern Soul First Friday; and April 25 through 28, the Miss Mississippi Outstanding Teen Pageant.

Mardi Gras will be celebrated in Vicksburg March 2 with the 18th Annual Mardi Gras downtown parade at 4 p.m.; Mardi Gras Party at Cottonwood Public House at 4 p.m.; and join SCHF from 5 to 8 p.m. for the 8th Annual Carnaval de Mardi Gras & Gumbo Cook-off.

Spring Break camps registration has started! SCHF “Southern Exposure” March 11 through 15, call 601-631-2997. Tara Wildlife Spring Break Camp, March 11 through 15, call 601-203-4691. I would recommend checking with your church, different organizations such as Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus, WES Castle Club and all our sports organizations for other spring break activities.

For March through June, contact 601-638-9838 or email Shirley@vicksburgblues.net for information on Mississippi Juke Joint Trail, The Blues Corner and The Blues Experience.

Mark calendars now:

March

March 2: 40th Annual Run Thru History at the National Military Park, then join Toney’s Grill & Seafood at 2 p.m. for live music;

March 21 through April 7: Vicksburg Spring Pilgrimage;

March 22: Gold in the Hills;

April

April 5 and 6: Gold in the Hills;

April 8: Tickets go on Sale for the Annual Ritz on the River, which is July 18, at the VCC;

April 13: Alcorn State University Jazz Festival at the VCC;

April 13: Annual Old Court House Flea Market;

May

May 10 and 11: Riverfest/VicksburgFest;

May 25: Lake Fest on Eagle Lake Shore Road;

May 27: Fort Saint Pierre Tercentennial Lecture Series at the National Military Park.

Stay up to date by joining my Facebook Group, Vicksburg MS Positive Community–Events & topic discussions and reading The Vicksburg Post.

Please note: Events, dates and times are subject to change. If I missed any business, event or organization, I apologize.

Gina Hendrickson is a downtown Vicksburg resident. You may reach her at ginahendrickson12@gmail.com