A Full Spring of Events in 2022
If you're planning a trip to Laurel this year, the City Beautiful has planned a packed season of events that you simply cannot miss. From Mississippi Made in the Mercantile Front Yard to free concerts in the Trustmark Park, this spring's events offer visitors and locals a chance to enjoy our Hometown to the fullest. Here's a few events to look forward to this year!
February
February 12, 2022 — Magnolia State Bank Chili Cook Off
The event takes place the second Saturday in February and is held Downtown Laurel, downtown with music, beverages (coke products & beer), and teams competing to be the winner. All entries are cooked on site and judged by a team of professionals. Click here for tickets.
March
March 4, 2022 — Lauren Rogers Museum: First Fridays Concert with Ra'Shad the Blues Kid
Join LRMA for a fun evening to explore the many styles and sounds of the guitars featured in the exhibition. Come and go between 5:30 and 7:00pm to tour the exhibition, listen to live music, and enjoy light refreshments.
March 5, 2022 —
First State Bank's Laurel Leap Day
Laurel Leap Day is Laurel's annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on Front Street. There will be plenty of room in the bleachers for spectators to cheer on their favorite team. Food vendors, beverages and a DJ will also be around to transform Front Street into a sports arena. This is the best way to reunite your high school teammates or form a new team and have a great team with the community and win cash prizes! There's also a Dunk Competition and a 3-Point Shootout. Click here to learn more!
March 5, 2022 — Trustmark Touch-A-Truck: Sponsored by Nurture Our Future
Trustmark Touch-A-Truck is a fun, family event that offers hands-on opportunities for children to explore, climb and touch trucks, emergency response vehicles, heavy machinery and other equipment. Kids have the opportunity to get behind the wheel and rub elbows with their hometown heroes, while exploring their favorite vehicles including big rigs, fire engines, police cars, construction trucks, tractors and more. 
March 12, 2022 — Mississippi Made
Laurel Mercantile Co. hosts ten Mississippi-based vendors for a chance to support Mississippi's best local makers. Located in the Mercantile Front Yard, vendors are diverse in subject and can be artists, ceramicists, homemade beekeepers and honey makers, organic dog treat creators, and so much more! Expect good food, coffee, and a community experience that will make your Home Town dreams come true. You never know who might make an appearance at Mississippi Made!
March 25, 2022 — Wine Down Downtown
A monthly wine tasting and adventure through Downtown Laurel's local shops during extended hours. Grab your Laurel Main Street wine tumbler (that changes each month) and wine and dine your way from 5pm - 8pm. Laurel is considered a Social District and follows the "to go cup ordinance" approved by the City of Laurel.
March 26, 2022 — Live in Laurel
A free concert series in downtown Laurel at Trustmark Art Park one Saturday per month from 3pm-6pm. Family-friendly!
Photo credit to MCE Photography/ Chad Edwards
April
April 1, 2022 — First Fridays Concert Series at Lauren Rogers Museum of Art | Acoustic Bluegrass with Andy MacDonald
April 8, 2022 — Wine Down Downtown
April 12 — Youth Class: Discover Drawing | 4 weeks beginning April 12
This class will take students to the next level of artistic study. Young artists will work in black, white, color and mixed media to learn more about the art of drawing. Whether creating scenes from their imagination or recording sites from in and around the Museum, students will explore advanced concepts such as perspective and shading. By the end of the series, young artists will have a portfolio highlighting their new skills. This class will be held every Tuesday from 3:30-5:00pm on April 12, 19, 26, and May 3rd. All supplies will be provided!
Museum Annex Studio
Ages: 10-14
$50 members / $60 non-members
April 14 — arTalk | Richard Cooper
Richard Cooper, a local Laurel artist, will be sharing The Seven Things All Paintings Are Made Of. In his 40 years experience of trying to make paint behave, Cooper has learned quite a few valuable lessons. His art has been seen and enjoyed by millions around the world. As a lifelong visual eavesdropper, he creates pieces that have a narrative and a broad appeal. Richard has recently put down roots here in Laurel. He is eager to paint with or just hang out talking art with new friends. Learn More.
Gary will be discussing Southern Gardening All Year Long, and his approach to southern landscapes from a different perspective. Instead of encyclopedic lists and articles focused on botanical gardens or someone else’s landscape, Bachman connects with his audience through personal stories that share his expertise gained over decades of planting in this easily digestible format. Join arTalk as the author recounts tales about his own personal gardens – plants that have thrived and failed – and presents his advice in a common-sense style.
Book signing to follow lecture. Southern Gardening All Year Long will be available for purchase for $25.00 from the Museum Shop.
April 22 & 23 — En Plein Air
Spend a weekend in Laurel and paint the town! Join likeminded artists of all levels and experiences while painting small town scenes across Downtown. Organized by Pinehurst Rathskeller, this event is highly anticipated event for artists all across the south. The best part is that the proceeds go directly to the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter in Laurel. Every person who donates, participates in the event and/or volunteers makes a huge difference. To purchase apparel, register or learn more, visit www.paintinlaurel.com.
April 23, 2022 — Community Bank's Downtown Crawfest
April 29 — Walking Tours
George Bassi, the Director of LRMA, will be leading walking tours through the historic district of Laurel every Friday in March and April, . George is a charismatic speaker and holds a wealth of knowledge about the birth and entrepreneurial beginnings of our city. It would be a delightful experience for locals and visitors alike! Tours begin at Lauren Rogers Museum of Art at 10:30am and last approximately one hour.
April 26-29 — Richard Cooper Workshop
Join Richard Cooper as he hosts a painting workshop in Downtown Laurel. Participants will paint and tour historic homes, work with models in period costumes, enjoy southern style lunch each day and a farewell dinner on the last evening! Learn more here.
May
May 7 — Day In The Park
May 13 — Wine Down Downtown
May 14 — Live in Laurel
May 27 — The Lantern House Book Signing
In celebration of Erin's newest children's book, The Lantern House, she will be signing copies at the Laurel Mercantile Co. More details coming soon!
May 28 — Memorial Day Weekend / Mississippi Made
Be on the lookout for event updates here and at laurelmainstreet.com. Don't forget to pre-order your copy of The Lantern House for the book-signing in May!
