JFP Events - Event Listings for Jackson, Mississippi

Weekly Storytime: Aug 3 – Dec 31.; Each Tuesday, Baby Bookworms Storytime for children ages birth-36 months is at 9:30 a.m., and Preschool Storytime for children ages 3-6 is at 10:30 a.m. The event includes stories, rhymes and music. A puppet show is given on the last Tuesday of the month.; Pearl Public Library.; Free.

Creative Writing Workshop: Apr 8 – Dec 31.; In H.T. Sampson Library, third floor. The Nameless Poets of Jackson host the workshops Sundays at 3 p.m. Topics include settings, metaphors, character creation and description, and other literary devices.; Jackson State University.; Free.

Stop the Violence Essay Contest: May 10 – Jul 7.; Students in the Jackson Public Schools system are welcome to write on the topic "How is the violence in the city of Jackson affecting your future?" Submit essays by July 7. Three winners receive $100 and a trophy, and will read their essays at the annual Stop the Violence Rally.; *N/A.

Princess Dance Camp Registration: May 15 – Jun 1.; The camp is for ages 3-7 and is held July 9-13. The program ends with an in-class performance fr family and friends. 50-percent deposit required bu June 1.; Mississippi Metropolitan Dance Academy.; $125.

Lemuria Story Time: Sat, May 19, 11:00 am.; Enjoy a reading of "Revenge of the Dinotrux" and make Dinotrux toys.; Lemuria Books.; Free.

Summer Reading Kick-off: Sat, May 19, 12:00 pm.; In the Cancer Center Corridor. Operation Shoestring and United Way host the event to advise parents on promoting summer reading for their children and discuss the Jackson Public Schools’ summer reading program.; Jackson Medical Mall.; Free.

"Caleb's Crossing": Tue, May 22, 5:00 pm.; Geraldine Brooks signs books; reading at 5:30 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $16 book.

Story Time on the Side Porch: May 23 – Jun 27.; Children in kindergarten through third grade listen to a classic story and make a related craft Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. through June 27.; Eudora Welty House.; Free.

"Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk": Wed, May 23, 5:00 pm.; Ben Fountain signs books; reading at 5:30 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $25.99 book.

"Paris, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down": Thu, May 24, 5:00 pm.; Rosecrans Baldwin signs books; reading at 5:30 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $26 book.

"It Takes A While" Book Signing: Fri, May 25, 2:00 pm.; Thomas Ramsey signs his book about a man who falls in love at a retirement community.; St. Catherine's Village.; $15 book.

J.D. Davis Book Signing: Sat, May 26, 12:00 pm.; Davis signs copies of "Unconquered: The Saga of Cousins Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart and Mickey Gilley."; Books-A-Million.; $24.95 book.

"Married to Sin: A Memoir": Mon, May 28, 2:00 pm.; Darlene D. Collier and Meredith McGee sign copies of and read from their book.; Charles Tisdale Library (formerly Northside Library).; $12.62 book.

"Walking Safari: Or, the Hippo Highway and Other Poems ": Tue, May 29, 5:00 pm.; Noel Polk signs books; reading at 5:30 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $12.95 book.

"The Not Yet": Wed, May 30, 5:00 pm.; Moira Crone signs books; reading at 5:30 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $15.95 book.

"A Blaze of Glory: A Novel of the Battle of Shiloh": Thu, May 31, 5:00 pm.; Jeff Shaara signs books; reading at 5:30 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $24.99 book.

"A Land More Kind Than Home": Fri, Jun 1, 5:00 pm.; Wiley Cash signs books; reading at 5:30 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $24.99 book.

Pages of Promise Summer Reading Book Club Program: Jun 4 – Aug 7.; United Way hosts the program to encourage youth in grades K-12 to read during the summer break. Book club sites include Charles Tisdale Library, Eudora Welty Library and Richard Wright Library; call or visit myunitedway.com for dates and times. Summer reading parties are at 10 a.m. at the Jackson Zoo June 9, the Agriculture and Forestry Museum June 30, New Horizon Church July 14 and Jackson Medical Mall July 28. Registration required.; *multiple locations.; Free.

Story Time Tuesday: Tue, Jun 5, 10:00 am.; A zookeeper reads an animal story, and the kids get to do a related craft project or have an animal encounter.; Jackson Zoo.; Free with paid admission.

"The Garden District of New Orleans": Tue, Jun 5, 5:00 pm.; Jim Fraiser signs books; reading at 5 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $49.95 book.

Wild About Reading Party: Sat, Jun 9, 10:00 am.; The program includes crafts, a scavenger hunt, games and book readings. Donate a book to Jackson Public Schools' summer reading program and receive free admission for one child.; Jackson Zoo.; $9, $8.20 seniors, $6 children ages 2-12, members/babies free.

JPS Summer Reading Day: Sat, Jun 9, 10:00 am.; The theme is "Wild About Reading!" Children enjoy crafts, keeper talks and a scavenger hunt. Students who read at least three books during the summer receive free zoo passes.; Jackson Zoo.; Free with paid admission.

"Canada": Tue, Jun 12, 5:00 pm.; Richard Ford signs books; reading at 5:30 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $26.99 book.

"The Lost Ones": Wed, Jun 13, 5:00 pm.; Ace Atkins signs books; reading at 5:30 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $25.95 book.

"Istanbul Passage": Thu, Jun 14, 5:00 pm.; Joseph Kanon signs books; reading at 5:30 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $26 book.

"The Haunted Natchez Trace": Sat, Jun 16, 1:00 pm.; Bud Steed signs books.; Lemuria Books.; $16.99 book.

Nighttime Tales: Tue, Jun 19, 10:30 am.; The Madison County Library System Children’s Specialists perform with puppets, and presents skits and songs.; Madison Public Library.; Free.

"Dust to Dust: A Memoir": Tue, Jun 19, 5:00 pm.; Benjamin Busch signs books; reading at 5:30 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $26.99 book.

"Born to Battle: Grant and Forrest - Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga": Wed, Jun 20, 5:00 pm.; Jack Hurst signs books; reading at 5:30 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $32 book.

"The One: The Life and Music of James Brown": Fri, Jun 29, 5:00 pm.; R.J. Smith signs books; reading at 5:30 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $27.50 book.

"Sea Change": Fri, Jul 13, 5:00 pm.; Karen White signs books; reading at 5:30 p.m.; Lemuria Books.; $15 book.

Mississippi Writers Guild Conference: Aug 3 – Aug 4.; Speakers include Evan Guilford-Blake, C. Hope Clark and Chuck Galey. Stay tuned for details.; Arts Center of Mississippi.; Admission TBA.

Literary and Signings