Celebrating with Local Cheer

This holiday season, make local events a part of your celebration. Photo by Mike Arney on Unsplash

This holiday season, make local events a part of your celebration. Photo by Mike Arney on Unsplash

Hal & Mal's (200 Commerce St., 601-948-0888)

Hal and Mal's will host its 14th annual Tacky Christmas Party on Saturday, Dec. 15, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. The event will feature live music from DJ Mario, a limited open bar in the restaurant's VIP lounge, hors d'oeuvres, drink specials and more. Hal & Mal's encourages guests to wear the tackiest holiday clothes they can.

Tickets are $25 per person or $100 per couple for VIP passes, which are available through the Phoenix Club of Jackson, an organization that supports the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi. Proceeds from the event will benefit Boys & Girls Clubs.

For more information, call 601-948-0888 or find the event on Facebook.

Fondren Corner (2906 N. State St., 601-362-8440)

Fondren Corner and NAMI Mississippi, a nonprofit state organization of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, will host a fundraising event called Cupcakes & Cocktails on Sunday, Dec. 16, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The event will feature food from La Brioche Patisserie, cocktails from Cathead Distillery and live music from Tiger Rogers. Party-goers will also get to sample cupcakes from several Jackson bakers and vote on their favorites.

Tickets are $55 per person. For more information, call 601-899-9058 or find the event on Facebook.

Barrelhouse Southern Gastropub (3009 N. State St., 769-216-3167)

Barrelhouse will host a Tacky Christmas Party on Saturday, Dec. 22, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event will feature special holiday drinks and food, live music from Wyatt Edmonson and a tacky Christmas outfit contest in which the winner will receive the restaurant's specialty tuna poke nachos free for a year. Admission is free. For more information, call 769-216-3167 or find the event on Facebook.

Festival of Trees

The Westin Jackson will host the inaugural Festival of Trees from Nov. 29-Dec. 15. The event begins with a Holiday Gala at The Westin Jackson (407 S. Congress St.) on Nov. 29 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., which will showcase decorated Christmas trees from local designers such as Erik Kegler Interiors and Betsy Mosby. After the event, the trees will be on display at The Westin until Dec. 9. Also, from now until Dec. 15, the hotel will have an ice-skating rink on the outdoor patio, complete with hot-chocolate stands, treat cats and more.

On Nov. 27, Soul Spa will host a shopping night that will feature free Champagne, small appetizers and one-night-only holiday discounts.

The Westin's Estelle Wine Bar & Bistro (407 S. Congress St.) will host Brunch with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 2, and Sunday, Dec. 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu includes cinnamon rolls, pancakes and other brunch foods. Guests can take photos with Santa and also hear stories from him. Reservations are required.

From Dec. 8-9, The Westin will also host the Sugarplum Fairy's Tea Parties. The only seating left at press time is Dec. 8 at 11:30 a.m.

For more information, visit jacksonsfestivaloftrees.com or find the event on Facebook.

Holiday Under the Stars

Jackson State University (1400 J.R. Lynch St.) will host Holiday Under the Stars on Thursday, Nov. 29, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Gibbs-Green Memorial Plaza. The event will have holiday-themed activities, live entertainment and a visit from Santa Claus. For more information, find the event on Facebook.

Chimneyville Arts Festival

This year's Chimneyville Arts Festival is Nov. 30 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Mississippi Trade Mart (1200 Mississippi St.) The preview party is Thursday, Nov. 29, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The festival features 150 vendors selling items in mediums such as metalwork, jewelry, clay and more. The preview party will have music, hors d'oeuvres, drinks and more. The tickets to that event, which are $50 in advance or $60 at the door, include admission for both days. The cost for Friday and Saturday is $10. For more information, call 601-856-7547 or visit craftsmenguildofms.org.


Photos With Santa

From now until Dec. 23, families can get their photos taken with Santa at Highland Village (4500 Interstate 55 N.). The event is on Friday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Photos are $39.95, and families will receive a memory card with the files. For more information, call Lynsie Armstrong at 601-982-5861 or email [email protected].

"Journey to the North Pole"

The Mississippi Children's Museum (2145 Museum Blvd.) will opened its "Journey to the North Pole" exhibit on Tuesday, Nov. 20. The special holiday exhibit features a winter village with lights, train cars and a 45-foot Snowflake Slide. Children will also be able to have their photos taken with Santa, build gingerbread houses and more. The exhibit is open through Jan. 6, 2019. For more information, call 601-981-5469 or visit mschildrensmuseum.org.

"Black Nativity: The Musical"

MADDRAMA at Jackson State University (1400 J.R. Lynch St.) will host "Black Nativity: The Musical," an adaptation of the Langston Hughes play that tells the story of Christmas through gospel, poetry and dance, from Thursday, Nov. 29, through Sunday, Dec. 2. Performances on Thursday through Saturday are from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday will also have a 10 a.m. performance. Regular admission is $15, and the cost for students and seniors is $10. For more information, visit jsums.edu.

Singing Christmas Tree

The 86th annual holiday event is at Belhaven University (1500 Peachtree St.) on Friday, Nov. 30, and Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m. During the concert, a tree made of Belhaven choral arts students, faculty and staff, and more will perform traditional Christmas music. The doors open at 7 p.m., and the event is free. For more information, visit belhaven.edu.

Yule Run Clinton 2018

The Clinton Chamber of Commerce will host the inaugural Yule Run Clinton on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The event will have a 5K and 10K walk and run before Clinton's annual Christmas parade. All participants will receive a race T-shirt, finisher medal and swag bag. Special awards will go to the top three male and female finishers in 5K walk, and 5K and 10K runs. The races will begin at Olde Towne Clinton (298 W. College St.). The current registration fee is $35, and the cutoff to register for the race is Nov. 30. For more information, visit yulerunclinton.com or find the event on Facebook.

New Hope Christian School's Holiday Bazaar

New Hope Christian School (5202 Watkins Drive) will host its annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The market will have local vendors, food, photography, live music and more. For more information, call Rosemary McClinton at 601-850-0572 or email [email protected].

Cookies With Santa

The Jackson Zoo (2918 W. Capitol St.) will host Cookies with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event will have animal encounters, cookie decoration, writing wish letters, a visit from Santa Claus at 2:45 p.m. and more. For more information, visit jacksonzoo.org.

Jingle Bell Jog

Southern AgCredit will host the 2018 Fit for Ag / Jingle Bell Jog Half Marathon, 10K and 5K is Saturday, Dec. 1, at Madison Central High School (1417 Highland Colony Pkwy., Madison) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will have a half marathon, 10K run, 5K walk and run, and a children's one-mile fun run. The race will have prizes for overall male and female runners, the top three male and female runners in each age group, and more. The deadline to register is Nov. 29, and packet pickup is Nov. 30 at Southern AgCredit (402 W. Parkway Place, Ridgeland) from noon until 8 p.m. Race day packet pickup is at MCHS at 7 a.m. For more information, visit raceroster.com or find the event on Facebook.

Jingle Bell Market

The Pearl Chamber of Commerce will host the holiday market on Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Clyde Muse Center (515 Country Place Pkwy., Pearl) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will have arts-and-crafts vendors, food for sale, live entertainment, pictures with Santa Claus for children and pets, a car show and a children's play area. For more information, call 601-939-3338 or visit pearlms.org.

Cookies & Milk With Santa

Sister, Sister Monogramming & Boutique (509 Liberty Road, Flowood) will host Cookies & Milk with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. During the event, participants can have milk and cookies with Santa from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. There will also be door-prize drawings from 10 a.m. to noon, grand prize drawings at 2 p.m., and Christmas crafts and store discounts all day. For more information, find the event on Facebook.

The Mustard Seed Open House

The annual open house at The Mustard Seed (1085 Luckney Road, Brandon) is Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature performances from the Bells of Faith Handbell Choir at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., a Christmas raffle at 2 p.m., and food from the Seedster Families Bake Sale. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit mustardseedinc.org.

Midtown Holiday Studio Tours

The Business Association of Midtown will host its annual Holiday Studio Tours on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is free to attend and will feature food trucks on Wilson Avenue, as well as handmade crafts, food, coffee, beer and more for sale at participating Midtown businesses. Attendees can also tour businesses such as the North Midtown Art Center, and The Hatch and The Hangar throughout the day. Businesses will also have different events. For more information, find the event on Facebook.

"A Christmas Carol"

New Stage Theatre will perform "A Christmas Carol" Dec. 1-21. Playwright Michael Wilson adapted the Charles Dickens classic, which tells the story of Ebeneezer Scrooge, for the stage. Tickets are $35 for regular admission, and $28 for seniors, students and military. Performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays begin at 7:30 p.m. Performances on Sundays begin at 2 p.m. For more information, newstagetheatre.com.

Priced to Move: Vol. 9

Priced to Move: Vol. 9 is Friday, Dec. 14, and Saturday, Dec. 15, at Lucky Town Brewing Company (1710 N. Mill St.). The event features work from 30 visual artists, each piece priced under $100. Priced to Move will also have music from Silent G, DJ Frecious, Skipp Koon, Vitamin Tea and more on Friday, and performances from Spacewolf and Vibe Doctors with guest artist 5th Child on Saturday. The hours on Friday are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, find the event on Facebook.

"Amahl and the Night Visitors"

The Mississippi Opera will present Gian Carlo Menotti's Christmas opera, "Amahl and the Night Visitors," at Bellwether Church (4624 Old Canton Road) on Sunday, Dec. 2. Regular admission is $25, and the cost is $5 for students and active military. For more information, visit msopera.org.

"Twas the Night Before Christmas: The Musical"

The Center Players Community Theatre will perform "Twas the Night Before Christmas: The Musical," based on Clement C. Moore's famous holiday poem, at Madison Square Center for the Arts (2103 Main St., Madison) Dec. 6-9. Regular admission is $15, and the cost is $12 for senior citizens, students and military. For more information, call 769-300-1359 or find the event on Facebook.

Christmas by Candlelight Tour

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History will host the Christmas by Candlelight Tour on Friday, Dec. 7, from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event will feature live music, tours, decorations, and refreshments at the places such as the Governor's Manson, Eudora Welty House and Garden, the Manship House Museum and the Mississippi State Capitol. Christmas by Candlelight will have transportation from site to site, and parking will be at the Old Capitol Museum and Mississippi State Capitol. For more information, call 601-576-6998 or visit mdah.ms.gov.

Holiday Open House

The Mississippi Farmers Market will host a Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The event will feature free samples from market food vendors, including honey, jams and jellies, pies, cheeses and more. The Farmers Market will also provide free hot chocolate, apple cider and popcorn for visitors.

Children will also be able to participate in workshops to decorate sugar cookies and create Christmas tree ornaments to take home.

View the complete list of vendors taking part in the Holiday Open House here. For more information, call 601-354-6573 or visit msfarmersmarket.com.

This list is not an extensive list. See and add more at jfp.ms/holidayevents2018. For more events, see jfpevents.com.

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