Festival South Highlights
Hattiesburg’s yearly music event!
This multi-week, multi-genre favorite Mississippi festival returns this month featuring country music legend Mac McAnally, and this year's slated music and film festival performances will not disappoint.
Families will enjoy the tale of 1001 Arabian Nights and Scheherazade, featuring the FestivalSouth Orchestral Academy. Cinema takes center stage at the FestivalSouth Film Expo that expands to encompass the entire second week, June 17–23. In addition to independent films from around the globe competing for this year’s top prize, movie-goers will enjoy special screenings and presentations by Mississippi writers and their Hollywood film adaptations.
The FestivalFinale celebrates the film theme with “The Reel Big Movie Concert” that showcases the great movie music of the silver screen.
Events for the family include music, art, theater, dance, and food throughout the month of June. For more information, visit festivalsouth.org.
June 9 • 7:30 p.m.
Nine-time Country Music Association’s Musician-of-the-Year, Mac McAnally returns to perform music from Southbound, his latest CD release featuring the FestivalSouth Orchestra. The symphonic experience will also raise money for Extra Table to provide meals for those in need.
Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium.
Adults $30; children $5.
June 10 • 3 p.m.
From the chamber musicians who brought you Baroque to the Future and Bach to the Burg, join FestivalSouth for music inspired by great Impressionists Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel with Timeless Impressions featuring Rachel Taratoot Ciraldo, flute; Stephanie Gustafson Amfahr, harp; Christopher Lowry, viola; Ken Graves, clarinet; and the FestivalString Quartet. Includes a world premiere by violist and composer Christopher Lowry. Inspiration for this Sunday afternoon outing highlights the colors of the harp, flute, clarinet, and string family
Main St. United Methodist Church. Adults
$15; children $5.
June 11 • 3 p.m.
Enjoy an afternoon of music for eight guitars by the prize-winning Mexican guitar ensemble Octeto Sicarú with guest artist guitarist Nicholas Ciraldo.
Hattiesburg Cultural Center.
Adults $10; children $5.
June 1 • 7:30 p.m.
Harlem String Quartet
The Grammy Award-winning Harlem Quartet advances diversity in classical music, engaging new audiences around the world. From a 2009 performance at The White House to a highly successful tour of South Africa in 2012, and numerous venues in between, they bring their talent to FestivalSouth for a special program including music from Debussy and Bolcom to Dizzy Gillespie and Guido Lopez Gavilán.
First Presbyterian Church;
Adults $20; children $5.
June 13 • 10 a.m.
Learn about the harp, its history, and how it works. Watch a harp demo by professional harpist Stephanie Gustafson Amfahr and make your own stringed instrument. Amfahr, a harpist based in Houston, Texas, works as a Young Artist Fellow with Da Camera of a Houston as part of a program that brings music to under-served communities throughout Houston. She has played with professional orchestras in Santiago, Chile and Gothenburg, Sweden and is currently Principal Harpist with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. She also works for the publication Harp Column and performs with orchestras, opera, and ballet companies from El Paso to New Orleans.
Library of Hattiesburg. Free.
June 14 • 7:30 p.m.
The Truth About Love … and the Usual Lies featuring Jessica Medoff, soprano and Michael Bunchman, piano. A musical journey through the ups and downs of love that features songs from Avenue Q, Kurt Weill's Street Scene, songs by William Bolcom, classics from the American popular repertoire and more, enjoy a musical journey about love in all its quirky variations.
Front Street Bar.
Adults $20; children $5.
June 15 • 7:30 p.m.
LOL Cabaret: Netflix and Chill featuring The Hub City Players. Enjoy a hysterical musical evening as The Hub City Players return with their smash hit revue – this year, lampooning TV, movies and more.
Brewskys.
Adults $20 (21+ only).
June 16 • 7:30 p.m.
The Dog Days 5k run and 2-mile walk is an event benefitting Hub City Service Dogs, a nonprofit organization in Hattiesburg that trains service dogs for people with medical disabilities. There will be door prizes, breakfast, a Run-by Dog pageant, and awards for runners/walkers with and without dogs. Dogs must be up-to-date on vaccinations and on a fixed leash. Registration includes a race shirt.
Starting at Kamper Park.
Registration is $25 online at festivalsouth.org.
June 16 • 4 p.m.
The FestivalSouth Orchestral Academy performs one of the most colorful and descriptive scores in all of classical music, 1001 Arabian Nights. The Sultan Schariar, convinced that all women are false and faithless, vows to put to death each of his wives after the first nuptial night. But Scheherazade saves her life by entertaining him with fascinating tales for a thousand and one nights. The Sultan, consumed with curiosity, postponed from day to day the execution of his wife and finally ended his killing spree.
USM Bennett Auditorium.
Adults $15; children $5.
June 16 • 6 p.m.
The Hattiesburg Craft Beer Festival hosts breweries from around the nation where guests can sample more than 100 craft beers, meet the people behind the beer, enjoy live music, food, and celebrate the craft beer industry and its rapid growth in Mississippi. Purchase tickets online in advance to ensure you get a spot at this packed-out event. VIP tickets will not be sold on-site at the festival.
Town Square Park. Ticketed (various prices).
21 and over only. www.festivalsouth.org.
June 17 • 3 p.m.
A Salute to Fathers with the Victory Belles, a USO-style concert featuring a mini-museum, free food and drinks, and dancing. This event raises funds, awareness, care, and support and research for Alzheimer's patients. Guests are invited to dress in military and period clothing to celebrate veterans. The Victory Belles are a vocal trio performing the music of the 1940s, serenading audiences at The National WWII Museum and across the globe. Their repertoire includes the treasured gems of the WWII era plus patriotic classics including a musical salute to each branch of the US armed forces.
The Claiborne.
Adults $20; children $5.
Want to Go?
TICKETS for all shows: festivalsouth.org,
(800) 844.TICK or phone 601.266.5418.
