Events in May

Greenville Speedway Season Opening

March 31st to October 6th

The Greenville Speedway begins its new racing season at the most exciting track in the Delta. Come and check out the fast action, heart pounding, wheel to wheel racing at the Greenville Speedway which includes race cars of all makes and models, with exciting competitions, weekly racing, and cash prizes. Check out the website. for a full schedule of events.

Make Art Not War exhibit at E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center

April 20th to June 8th

-The Greenville Arts Council announces the opening of their third exhibit of the 2012 year in the Roger D. Malkin Gallery. Make Art Not War the Artwork of Kim Guthrie opens on April 20 and will remain up until June 8, 2012. The Roger D. Malkin Gallery is open from 10 AM-4 PM Monday through Friday and by appointment on Saturday. This exhibit showcases the three dimensional and two dimensional work of Kim Guthrie. Prepare yourself to have fun! This exhibit has allowed Guthrie to be free and unhindered by artistic traditions, stigmas or mediums. For 27 years, Guthrie has created murals for clients with specific tastes and requirements. While those opportunities made it possible for her to make a living as an artist, she was hindered somewhat creatively. So now, look out, it’s all about experimentation and freedom! This exhibit it filled with a variety of installations, mixed media pieces, and paintings. “The Greenville Arts Council is looking forward to this exhibit. Kim does a great job of using recycled and different materials to create artwork that everyone can relate to. Her humor and creativity come through in every piece,"stated MacKenzie Stroh, Executive Director of the Greenville Arts Council. The opening reception will be held on April 20, 2012 from 5:00 PM-7:00 PM and is free and open to the public. This exhibit will remain in the gallery until June 8, 2012. Artwork will be available for purchase. For more information about the exhibit or the gallery contact the Greenville Arts Council at 662-332-2246 or for more information and gallery schedule visit their website.

National Travel/Music Month at the Washington County Welcome Center

May 1st to May 31st

Activities (11AM- 2PM) Washington County Welcome Center Markita Grady Supervisor (662) 332-2378 Phone SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 Family Day- There will be face painting and cartoon characters. Picnic lunches are welcome for Family Day. There will also be a raffle for a Mississippi gift given away. SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012 A Mississippi Basket from Indianola Pecan House will be raffled off to a lucky tourist stopping by the Welcome Center. MONDAY, MAY 7, 2012 “ Little Bales of Cotton” will be at the Welcome Center to pass out cotton samples and showcase their facility. TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012 Mid Delta Home Health Nurses will have a Health Fair from 11am -2pm. WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2012 Mars Inc. formerly Uncle Bens’ rep will be on- site to discuss rice and give samples to Tourists. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 Mackenzie from E.E. Bass Cultural Center will be at the Welcome Center from 11am-2pm. FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2012 Greenville Convention and Visitors’ Bureau rep will be present to display Greenville /Washington County. SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2012 Dot Turk from the Jim Henson Museum and Mississippi Department of Transportation will be present at the Welcome Center from 11am -2pm. SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2012 Mississippi Items will be given from 11am- 2pm.

YMCA Cotton Classic 10K Run

May 5th

CITY: Greenville, LOCATION: Washington County Courthouse Lawn YMCA Cotton Classic run kicks off the Mainstreet Arts and Crafts Festival. Registration for this Mississippi event begins at 7a.m. Contact Betty Lynn Cameron Executive Director of Greater Greenville Mainstreet at 662-378-3121

Annual Mainstreet Arts and Crafts Festival--CANCELLED

May 5th

CITY: Greenville, LOCATION: Courthouse Lawn Arts, crafts, food, entertainment, kids activities, and more.http://www.mainstreetgreenville.com/ ** This event has been cancelled for 2012. Please contact Betty Lynn Cameron at 662-378-3121 if you need further information.

Beats At Bass: Jason Fratesi and the Dirt Road Jam Band

May 5th

Come on down to BASS and join the Greenville Arts Council, Delta Symphony Association, and Delta Children’s Museum for our annual spring concert by Jason Fratesi and the Dirt Road Jam Band on the E.E. Bass front lawn. Free to the public and families and we encourage the community to attend.

Auditions for Roald Dahi's Willie Wonka

May 7th to May 8th

Directed by Mackenzie Stoh. Tryouts will be in the Delta Center Stage Rehearsal Hall at the E.E. Bass Center. Many roles for all ages. Open to all young persons of school age. No preparation necessary--Singing and non-singing rolls. Auditioners will read a short passage from the script and will be asked to demonstrate singing talent. Information and script copies will be posted soon on the website.

Crappie Masters Tournament

May 12th

Crappie Masters will be in Greenville for their National Qualifier Tourney on Lake Washington, Ferguson, Lee, and Paradise! Register online on their website. Late Registration--Seminar May 4 at 5:00 PM. Kids Outdoors will also sponsor a fishing rodeo for children under the age of 15 and prizes will be awarded. Registration begins at 8:00--9 A.M. and the fishing and activities will be between 9-11 A.M. Host Radio Real Country 100.7 and The Dish Network will also film in the area and on the lakes for Crappie Masters TV. The official weigh-in will be in front of Greenville Inn and Suites (TROP) properties between 4-6pm.

The Leland Crawfish Festival

May 12th

CITY: Leland, LOCATION: Downtown Leland --Crawfish, entertainment, food vendors, crafts, and much more on the historical streets of Leland. Crawfish posters and T-shirts available to purchase. Visit their website for more information.*** UPDATE** THE FESTIVAL HAS MOVED TO THE LELAND NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY DUE TO HIGH CHANCE OF RAIN**

Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area Community Forum

May 15th

Come and learn about the National Heritage Area and share your ideas to help plan to preserve, celebrate and share the important stories and places of the Mississippi Delta. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free. For more information visit their website. No reservations are required.

2012 USTA League Tennis Mississippi Senior Championship

May 17th to May 22nd

Come and watch this tourney held for qualifying teams throughout the state. Winners of each division advance to sectional tournament at the Greenville Golf & Country Club (host site), Cypress Hills Tennis Club, Leland Racquet Club, and Wards Recreational Center in Greenville. Contact Parker England at 662-379-2557 or pengland@planters-bank.com

"Soil: Not Just the Dirt Around the Artifact"

May 19th

Guest speaker, Rachael Stout Evans, Soil Survey Project Leader at the Metcalfe Soil Survey Project Office. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. Call Mark Dingeldein, staff archaeologist, for more information at 662-334-4684.

Delta 180: Changing lives in the Mississippi Delta

May 31st

Delta 180 and the Greenville Arts Council invite you to a Public Screening of Delta 180: Changing lives in the Mississippi Delta. This is a film by Cypress Bend Productions, LLC Robbie Fisher and Anne Rayner, Producers. Reception will begin at 5:30pm, Screening at 6:00pm, and Q & A at 6:30pm at E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center. Go to their website for more information.

Delta Center Stage 2011-2012 Season

July 28th to June 10th

CITY:Greenville, LOCATION:323 S. Main St. - E.E. Bass Auditorium-Delta Center Stage is a quality example of community theatre doing what it does best, bringing local talent to a local audience and giving them more than they expected. Delta Center Stage has won six awards from the state theatre festival since 1995. Visit their website for the most current updates and full descriptions. Hairspray--July 28-31,2011 I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change-September 29-October 2,2011 Lend Me A Tenor- December 8-11,2011 The Color Purple- April 19-22 (rescheduled) Death of a Salesman- May 3-6 (rescheduled) S'Wonderful, S'Marvelous, S'Gershwin- June 7-10,2012