Wikimedia Commons user dudemanfellabra
The best way to foster a life-long appreciation for the arts is to get the whole family involved—and make it fun! Luckily, there's plenty of opportunities to do exactly that during FestivalSouth. The festival, which runs from June 9–23, has plenty of events from dance parties to art shows to a carnival to engage and entertain all ages. Those with curious kids should definitely keep an eye out for Artie, the friendly paintbrush character mascot for Artie Events for Families. The Artie events focus on not only entertaining growing minds but also exposing them to new ideas, fostering creative thinking, and instilling love for the arts. Past events have included marionette puppetry, music of Africa Brass, Russian art and egg painting, and more. Many of the events are held in the afternoons with low or no cost, so you can pack more entertainment into your FestivalSouth experience without breaking the bank or worrying about bedtime.
There's plenty afoot in Hattiesburg these two weeks to exercise the aesthetic sensibility, but it's important to keep the body fit as well as the mind—or at least make up for some of the delicious festival food. This year's FestivalSouth race is the Dog Days 5k and 2 Mile walk, benefiting the Hub City Service Dogs program. It's a great way to get the whole family active, even the four-legged members. Not only is the race dog-friendly, it even includes a Run-By Dog Pageant, so make sure your pup is looking sharp!
The weekend headliner events are an especially fun time to bring out young and old alike. The bewitching tale of 1001 Arabian Nights and the FestivalSouth Orchestral Academy's performance of Scheherazade on June 16 will be accompanied by a lively carnival starting at 4 p.m. and packed with face painting, food, and fun. Closing night of the festival, June 23, is the Reel Big Movie concert at the Saenger, featuring movie music the whole family will love—and plenty of surprises! No matter what your age, FestivalSouth is the perfect canvas for summer fun and creating great memories.
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