April 1, 2026

East Mississippi Community College’s annual Pine Grove Arts Festival on the Scooba campus kicks off April 7 and continues through April 14. Pine Grove activities on the Golden Triangle campus will take place April 14. 

“We are really looking forward to the festival and the opportunity it provides to celebrate the visual, musical and performing arts,” EMCC art instructor and Scooba campus Pine Grove Arts Festival Chairwoman Lisa Spinks said.

Some events on the Scooba campus, including a beauty pageant, a Mighty Lion Band performance and an art exhibit, will be open to the public, while others, including events at the Golden Triangle campus, are primarily for students, faculty and staff.

Here is a breakdown of events:

Scooba campus

Tuesday, April 7

EMCC’s annual Beauty & Beau pageant takes place in Stennis Hall Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is $5, and the event is open to the public.

People’s Choice voting returns this year, which allows members of the audience to cast votes for their favorite contestants. Votes are $1 each, and there is no limit on the number of votes allowed per person until the voting closes. The People’s Choice award will be presented after votes have been tabulated.

Approximately 13 contestants from EMCC’s Scooba and Golden Triangle campuses will compete for the title of “Most Beautiful” and “Most Handsome” in the event that received the 2016-17 Outstanding Pageant Award by the Mississippi Association of Pageant Judges. “Top 5 Beauties” will also be recognized.

“The pageant really helps boosts the contestants’ confidence,” said Tonya Hunt,

EMCC’s director of accounting who serves as the chairperson for the pageant. “In my view, every contestant is already a winner because they had the courage to participate. The pageant is more than just a show of outward appearances. We are building confidence and helping students envision their futures as they prepare for life beyond EMCC.”

Thursday, April 9

A scavenger hunt for students begins at 2:30 p.m. in Aust Hall where clues will be available for pickup. Students will look for artwork that matches the clues. There will be first, second, and third-place prizes for students who correctly answer the most clues.

Friday, April 10

The closing reception for the 2026 Mississippi Community College Art Instructors Association (MCCAIA) Annual State Art Competition and Exhibition will take place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Aust Hall, with an awards ceremony at 10:30 a.m. 

Aust Hall will open at 8 a.m. for those who wish to arrive early and view the artwork. The MCCAIA Annual State Art Competition is open to full-time students at all 15 community colleges in the state. Nearly 200 pieces of artwork are showcased in the exhibit. Community colleges in the state take turns hosting the annual competition.

Art faculty and some student competitors from community colleges across the state will be in attendance.

Tuesday, April 14

The EMCC Mighty Lion Band will perform beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Keyes T. Currie Coliseum. The public is invited to attend the free concert.

The concert will include the band’s symphonic winds, percussion ensemble, indoor percussion ensemble, and the Color Guard. The concert is a send-off for the indoor percussion ensemble, which will be traveling to Dayton, Ohio.

Golden Triangle campus

April 14

The annual Pine Grove Arts Festival for students on the Golden Triangle campus will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the patio space between the Douglas Building and the Johnny W. Fisher Math and Science Building.

There will be music, games and food.