March 21, 2024

East Mississippi Community College’s Pine Grove Arts Festival on the Scooba campus will take place April 2-3, with most events free and open to the public. Pine Grove events on the Golden Triangle campus for students, faculty and staff will take place April 9.

SCOOBA CAMPUS

First up is the annual Beauty Revue, which will take place April 2 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Stennis Hall Auditorium. Students from EMCC campuses in Scooba and the Golden Triangle will vie for the titles of “Most Beautiful” during the pageant, which garnered the 2016-2017 Outstanding Pageant Award by the Mississippi Association of Pageant Judges.

A full slate of events is on tap April 3, with festivities kicking off at noon with a pottery sale in Aust Hall featuring works by EMCC students and faculty. The event will run until 3 p.m.

“Some of the members of my community class have donated items as well for the sale and some of their pottery is really, really good,” EMCC art instructor and Scooba Pine Grove Arts Festival Chairwoman Lisa Spinks said.

An art exhibit featuring student drawings, designs and ceramics completed during the fall and spring terms will also be on display in the Aust Hall gallery throughout the day, with refreshments available from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The exhibit will continue through April from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, or by appointment. Email Spinks at lspinks@eastms.edu for an appointment. 

Events in Aust Hall will wrap up with a performance by the EMCC Concert Choir beginning at 1 p.m. Musical selections will include “The Word Was God” spiritual, a Motown medley and a rendition of “My Very Own.”

“We may do another number titled ‘The Greatest Show’ that is from the movie, ‘The Greatest Showman,’” Scooba Choir Director/Music Instructor Dr. Jerry Nance said.

In keeping with the musical theme, events then move to the Dottie Smith Family Center for Instrumental Music Education for performances by the EMCC Mighty Lion Band.

Southern Soul, EMCC’s New Orleans-style brass band, will take the stage at 1:30 p.m., which will be followed with performances by the college’s jazz band. Two groups from the Mighty Lion Band’s Color Guard will perform, with routines from each group.

The concert will wrap up with several selections by the band’s percussion ensemble, which will take place beginning at 2:30 p.m.

“We would love to have everyone join us for a nice afternoon of music,” EMCC Director of Bands Chris King said.

The Scooba campus’ Student Government Association will also host a cultural event from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Board Dining Room, which is located in the F.R. Young Student Union. That event will feature dishes native to other countries prepared by Sodexo and students in EMCC’s Culinary Arts program under the direction of Chef Jakiero Dismuke.

The event, which will also include music from other countries, will be free to students. There will be a cost of $7.50 for visitors and EMCC employees to cover expenses for lunch. The cafeteria will be open as well. Visitors can eat in the cafeteria for $9.35. 

GOLDEN TRIANGLE CAMPUS

Pine Grove Arts Festival events for students, faculty and staff on EMCC’s Golden Triangle campus will take place April 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Lyceum Auditorium.

Activities will include games, food and performances by the Golden Triangle Concert Choir and the Mighty Lion Band’s New Orleans-style brass band, Southern Soul.

A GLOCADE, comprised of glowing arcade games, will be set up inside the Lyceum Auditorium and will include Ping-Pong, Foosball, Shuffleboard, darts, Labyrinth, mini golf, Jenga and Cornhole.