November 12, 2024
Pearl River Community College’s halls are brimming with holiday cheer, and we’re excited to host the community for events that mark the start of the festive season. The Forrest County Campus will host Making Spirits Bright, an evening of fellowship and music, which will be held on Monday, November 18, starting at 7 p.m. The Poplarville Campus will host its eighth Wildcat Wonderland on the evening of Thursday, November 21, starting at 4:30 p.m. and ending with the ever-popular Holiday Pops concert at 7 p.m.
MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT
Holiday cheer will fill the Dr. Cecil Burt Special Events Room on PRCC’s Forrest County Campus for the annual Making Spirits Bright Holiday Concert. Guests can look forward to delicious desserts, good company, and musical entertainment for a memorable night.
If you’re looking for an occasion to kick off the holiday season, search no further. This merry event truly allows community members to enjoy a showcase of the talents of our faculty, staff and students. Make sure to come out and bring a friend to enjoy an evening full of holiday magic as Wildcats of all ages share their passions with the crowd and fill the room with cheer.
Tickets must be purchased in advance for this event that typically sells out. Individual tickets are $9. A reserved table (10 seats) is $100. You can reserve your tickets at the Forrest County Campus Library at 601-554- 5522.
WILDCAT WONDERLAND
From 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., the holiday spirit will fill the Poplarville Campus with family-friendly fun and activities for everyone to enjoy. Free and open to the public, this event promises abundant activities suitable for all ages.
Thousands of lights and displays will illuminate the campus, providing a sense of enchantment as attendees stroll the walkways to experience all that is offered. The campus decorations pay homage to holiday favorites like “Peanuts,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and many more.
Kids can visit with Santa in the Brownstone Center for the Arts, take a ride on the “Polar Express,” write letters to Santa at the Post Office, enjoy reindeer games by the library, visit the cafeteria to decorate cookies and take photos with Mrs. Claus, or make crafts in Crosby Hall.
Many very special guests have been confirmed, including the Grinch, Olaf from “Frozen”, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Barbie, and Snoopy. Have your cell phone ready to capture the joy of meeting these familiar faces. Whether it’s for a family picture or a selfie, these holiday icons will be there to make your evening extra special.
And that’s not all — Wildcat Wonderland will also feature face painting, cotton candy, hot chocolate giveaways, plus a live Nativity and petting zoo for everyone to enjoy. Children will be thrilled as they experience the joy of snow flurries while being on the lookout for the mischievous elves Peppermint Pearl and Riverbank Ralphie.
HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT
Join the Fine Arts Department as we celebrate the most magical night of the year with music. The Holiday Pops student concert will close out the evening in the Brownstone Center for the Arts at 7 p.m.
The Christmas production will feature The Voices, Currents, Rapids, PRCC Singers, JazzCats, Theatre, and more. Tickets are $7 each and are available for purchase at prcc.edu/brownstone/upcoming-events/.
HELPING OUR COMMUNITY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Phi Theta Kappa Iota Mu Chapter will host a “Stocking the Sleigh” donation drive. Attendees are invited to bring non-perishable items to the red sleigh across from Whoville during Wildcat Wonderland. This is an easy way to help our neighbors during the holiday season.
Donations will benefit The Market on the Poplarville Campus. The Market needs mostly grab-and-go types of food that are shelf-stable and only require a microwave to heat.
Attendees are also invited to participate in the Toy Drive by Pearl River County Hospital to help bring joy to the lives of children in our community. The drive will be located behind Huff Hall near Mickey and Minnie Mouse at Jefferson Davis. New toys are accepted – no wrapping is needed!
For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats), Instagram (PRCCWILDCATS), Facebook (@PRCCMKTG), and TikTok (@prcc_wildcats).
Article by Laura O’Neill. Photography by Rudy Melacon and Laura O’Neill.
