JFP Events - Event Listings for Jackson, Mississippi

Dinosaurs!: May 24 – Jan 4.; From a Protoceratops with hatchlings to a Tyrannosaurus rex, these robotic dinosaurs are fascinating to children and adults alike. Hear them roar, and watch them feed and care for their young. Learn which beasts may have been fighters and active hunters of other dinosaurs as prey and which creatures fed on tender plants.See the Pteranodon, the prehistoric sky king, whose wingspread was as wide as a soccer goal. Find out which dinosaur had eyes as big as soccer balls and possibly binocular vision. Understand how the horn-faced Triceratops protected itself from attackers and how much time the peaceful Apatosaurus may have spent in the water and why. Kokoro, the company that created the robotic dinosaurs, consults with distinguished paleontologists on all aspects of the creatures� attributes and functioning during development. Each creature is individually handcrafted and computer-programmed.; Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.; $5, various discounts available.

Candy's Art Camp - Session IV: Jul 14 – May 10.; Fourth Session of Candy's Art Camp for students ages 6-14 provides instruction in fine arts and crafts in 3-day intervals.; Mississippi Craft Center.; Tuition $135.

Let's Eat Shrimp for Mississippi Festival: Sun, Aug 31, 4:00 pm.; This fundraiser for Lutheran Episcopal Services of Mississippi features a shrimp dinner, face painting, a moon walk and live music from Rhonda Richmond, Dathan Thigpen & Holy Nation, Jesse Robinson and Nathaniel Smith. Carry out is available.; The Cedars Historic Home.; $20 per person.

3rd Annual Mississippi Experience: Mon, Sep 1, 1:00 pm.; The 3rd Annual Mississippi Experience features best of regional performers of gospel, blues, R&B, and hip-hop genres and dance. Headlining will be local R&B sensation Recognition and legendary blues icon Bobby Rush. Vendors will serve the best of Southern favorites.; Battlefield Park.; Free.

�Mississippi Crawfishes: Moving Beyond Etoufee�: Tue, Sep 2, 12:00 pm.; Susan B. Adams, Ph.D., of USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, in Oxford discusses Crayfish (a.k.a. crawfish, crawdad, or mudbug) that live around the world. They vary in color from dull to brilliant. With more than 63 species, Mississippi has one of the highest crayfish diversities in the world. She will present a brief global tour of crayfish and then bring it home to Mississippi with discussion of our species, their habitats, conservation issues, and ongoing research.; Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.; Free.

CelticFest Mississippi: Sep 5 – Sep 7.; CelticFest Mississippi is the main outgrowth of the Celtic Heritage Society mission, celebrating traditional Celtic culture over three days with stage performances, workshops, food, drink, and specialty item vendors.; Agriculture and Forestry Museum.; $12, various discounts available.

Mt. Salus' Third Annual BBQ Cook-off: Sat, Sep 20, 10:00 am.; Eat or compete at the BBQ cook-off. Fun for the whole family with activities for kids. Please register with Mt. Salus to compete in the cook-off. This is a fundraising event for Mt. Salus Christian School. Food prices vary. Parking on-site. Come-and-go with multiple activities.; Mt. Salus Elementary School (414 E. College St., Clinton).

First Annual Family Day in the Park: Sun, Sep 21, 1:00 pm.; The event will showcase the best Jackson has to offer in food, music, art and family fun. Local food vendors will be on hand including Tye's and Cool Al's. Kids activities will include a space jump, face painting, and a Nintendo Wii station. Performers will include the Time To Move Band, Storage 24, 7-Thirty and several gospel choirs. In addition to the great food and entertainment, Family Day in the Park will feature a voter registration drive, health fair, and an art display from area JPS students sponsored by the Ask For More Arts Commission and Parents For Public Schools.; Smith Park.

Fifth Annual Wing Dang Doodle Festival: Sat, Sep 27, 11:19 am.; Get your teams together and cook up your best chicken wings to vie for bragging rights and a $1,000 grand prize for the best grilled/smoked or fried chicken wings. The deadline is September 1, 2008. Cash prizes will be given for the best wings in each category, and a $1,000 goes to the grand prize winner. This year’s event will feature blues musician Eden Brent. Activities are planned for every age group: arts and crafts, a pet show and parade, and motorcycle show. Forest Community Arts will be providing arts and crafts for the children.; Forest, Mississippi.; Free admission, $5 fee for wing-tasting.

Family