Skip to main content

It’s festival, fair season in Mississippi

By WTOP Staff

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Tourism officials are reminding Mississippians of the abundance of local festivals and fairs to enjoy across the state.

“Enjoying great food, music and hospitality in the beautiful outdoors is a vital part of the Mississippi story and something we enjoy sharing with visitors. Throughout the summer, communities host festivals and fairs that showcase the authentic sights and sounds of our state’s culture and invite residents and visitors to embrace that culture for themselves,” Malcolm White, director of Visit Mississippi, said in a news release.

Tourism officials said the list of festivals and fairs includes:

— 65th Annual Choctaw Indian Fair in Philadelphia, July 9-12

The four-day event includes tribal arts, crafts, dances, food and the action of World Championship Stickball.

— 27th Annual Slugburger Festival in Corinth, July 10-12.

Slugburgers, a local delicacy, aren’t made of slugs as the name implies. The secret recipe includes meat and a breading extender, such as soybean meal. The patty is deep fried and garnished with pickle, mustard and onion.

The event is sponsored by Main Street Corinth. The festival features a slugburger-eating contest, carnival rides, a variety of food vendors and musical performances, including the popular Slug Idol competition.

— 36th Annual Mississippi Watermelon Festival in Mize, July 18-19.

Since 1978, the Mississippi Watermelon Festival in Mize has celebrated the delicious, ripe, world-famous Smith County watermelons.

— Natchez Food and Wine Festival, Natchez, July 25-27

The Natchez Food and Wine Festival hosts in some of the region’s most prominent chefs and restaurants for a weekend of food, wine and entertainment.

— Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, July 25-Aug. 1.

“Mississippi’s Giant House Party” began in 1889. The fair fosters political, agricultural and social exchanges of knowledge and ideas. It is home of the state’s only licensed horse track since 1922 and the nation’s largest campground fair. Rides, games, entertainment and hundreds of fair cabins provide a great atmosphere for visiting and discussing the latest political issues.

— 26th Annual Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival in Clarksdale, Aug. 8-10

The first Sunflower River Blues Festival took place in 1988 and was funded primarily by Clarksdale’s downtown merchants. Since then, one of the largest blues and gospel festivals in Mississippi has grown every year to include some of best names in the business. Celebrated for its authenticity and focus on Mississippi’s musical heritage, the event features entertainment by local and nationally known blues and gospel artists.

— Jackson Rhythm & Blues Festival in Jackson, Aug. 15-16

On multiple stages at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Museum, this inaugural event will be headlined by American Idol winner Fantasia and Ziggy Marley and will feature over 30 of R&B artists from across the Southeast, including: Bell Biv Devoe, Chrisette Michele, Estelle, Dorothy Moore, Curtis Salgado and Boney James.

___

Online:

Mississippi festival and fairs, http://www.VisitMississippi.org

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote