After 14 months and $4.2 million in renovations, the Pascagoula Public Library will unveil its upgraded facilities to the public on Aug. 18. 

Regardless of the scorching temperatures in Mississippi, it is never too early to start discussing fall fashion and daydreaming about our future fabulous fall outfits. Each new year brings in new fashion trends and endless styling possibilities. Below are five fashion trends to look out for this fall.

The 2025 CrossFit Games have concluded, crowning the Fittest Man and Woman on Earth. But the quest for the fittest in the world isn’t over. The Teenage CrossFit Games 2025 (athletes aged 14-17) will be held in Columbus, Ohio, from August 21-24, at the Columbus Convention Center, along with the Masters CrossFit Games (athletes aged 35 and older), organized by Legends. Mississippi will be sending an athlete in two categories to compete against athletes of their age from around the world. 

I have been craving a good vegetable soup lately, seems just right for very hot and humid mid-summer in Mississippi. I thought about a beef, or a chicken stew, but I have a hard time facing meat this time of the year, it’s just too heavy. This weather demands something light, but delicious. 

Even casual bird watchers are acquainted with our larger wading birds that are easily seen stalking prey along ditches, beaches, and other wet places. Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, and even Little Blue Herons are out in the open, sticking out like statues. But one of the smallest of our wading birds lurks in the shadows, if you know where to look.

The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra–the oldest orchestral ensemble in Mississippi-proudly announces its 106th concert season, “American Perspectives,” exploring the vast variety of American music, from pioneering classics to bold modern voices.

There’s nothing quite like fresh Gulf seafood—plump shrimp, sweet oysters, flaky fish—when it’s cooked just right. But even here on the Mississippi Coast, where the bounty of the Gulf is at our doorstep, it’s surprisingly easy to get it wrong. The two most common mistakes? Buying old seafood and overcooking it.

Labor Day weekend has always felt like Mississippi’s grand finale of summer—a few last golden days before the light changes and football season takes over our weekends. Here in the Magnolia State, we know how to stretch a holiday into a memory, and Labor Day is one of our favorite excuses to do just that.

Come celebrate 50 years of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at Hattiesburg’s Historic Saenger Theater on October 24th.  This year’s production will feature a special pre-show performance by Hattiesburlesque, an interactive live performance shadow cast, a costume contest and catered prop bags for audience participation during the movie! Tickets will go on sale Friday, August 8th at 10:00 a.m. and can be purchased through the link https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1B0062FFA4346FFB! 

In case you have not figured it out yet, balloon arches are a must-have item for all celebrations and important events. 

Whether it’s a birthday celebration, a baby gender reveal, a wedding shower, a graduation party, or a corporate event, the appropriate balloon arch is the piéce de résistance.

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has been awarded a $1.9 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S-STEM) program. The initiative aims to increase retention and graduation rates for high-achieving, underprivileged students pursuing STEM degrees that require Calculus I––a course that can be challenging for many students.

Mississippi may be known for its catfish, magnolias, and football rivalries, but the soul of the state plays out in something deeper — the music. Specifically, the blues. Mississippi is widely regarded as the birthplace of the blues, a genre that grew out of hardship, heritage, and the haunting beauty of the Delta.

For the eighth consecutive year, the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) at The University of Southern Mississippi hosted its annual Summer Enrichment Academy––focused on providing youth and young adult students with disabilities a summer employment learning experience through its Transition of Teens to Adult Life (ToTAL) program. The academy was held at both the Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses.

There’s something sacred about a place that’s weathered centuries and still stands tall. On the quiet edge of Pascagoula Bay, the LaPointe-Krebs House does just that. It’s not flashy or ornate—but it doesn’t need to be. Its age, its bones, and the stories baked into its tabby walls make it one of the most remarkable buildings not only in Mississippi but across the American South.

Get ready for a month full of learning, fun, and creativity at your local library! Whether you’re looking to join a craft class, attend a storytime, dive into a book club, or explore our newly renovated Pascagoula Public Library, there’s something for everyone this August.

August is unarguably the hottest month of the year— especially when you factor in the extreme Mississippi humidity. It is easy to retreat to our homes and sit under the air conditioner—waiting for cooler days, but where is the fun in that? Below are five ways to make the rest of your summer an enjoyable experience.