2021 Visit Meridian Visitors Guide

28 29 VISITMERIDIAN.COM GOOD TIME IN MERIDIAN FRIENDLY Children’s Museum Takes Fun Seriously Happiness is contagious at the Mississippi Children’s Museum-Meridian. Adults catch it from kids as they giggle their way through a puppet show they’re making up on the spot or grin with satisfaction at making a paper airplane soar (learning about aerodynamics in the process). Children get it from playing their way through almost 35,000 square feet (25,000 of it outdoors) of brain-stimulating wonders and adventures made just for them. As they’re having fun, they’re also learning about literacy, health and nutrition, and STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). They’re interacting with people of different ages and backgrounds. They’re getting exercise. They’re discovering things about the Meridian community and its history; one of the galleries is called Around My Town. The other galleries are WonderBox, featuring hands-on creating and inventing; My Storybook Factory, focused on literature, music, art, and performing arts; My Best Me, involving the many aspects of health; and My Fantastical Backyard, the museum’s whimsical outdoor playground. Most days feature at least one special event — perhaps story readings, or lessons in chess or Spanish, or an introduction to basic robotics and coding, or a visit from medical professionals or other interesting guests. Set aside plenty of time. Neither kids nor their grown-up companions will want to leave. HAVE A FAMILY Get Festive with Kids Even if you have kids, you can still rock out at music festivals or browse arts and crafts fairs. Just make a road trip to Meridian. The Queen City specializes in family- friendly festivals that deliver all the fun you remember from your where’s-the-party days and also provides lots of amusements — and a safe environment — for youngsters. Meridian even offers a family-friendly Mardi Gras celebration. And the moderate climate makes for great festival weather year-round. If your kids like music as much as you do, then the whole family needs to visit Meridian Underground Music, a self- proclaimed downtown “sub-cultural destination” where you can find CDs, vinyl LPs, musical instruments, and occasional live shows featuring local and touring bands. Fun Spans the Seasons Trees of Christmas at Merrehope displays more than 25 exquisitely decorated trees from Thanksgiving week through December at the Merrehope and F. W. Williams historic homes. Lazy Acres Farm, west of Meridian, puts on three seasonal events: the Bunny Patch Easter egg hunt, the Pumpkin Patch (and Corn Maze) in the fall, and the Christmastime Lazy Acres in LIGHTS! Santa’s Christmas Factory at the historic Soule SteamWorks offers “snow” and a mini train ride. In spring, the Earth’s Bounty Farmer’s Market starts its April-through-November run downtown on the first Saturday of every month, with such child pleasers as a petting zoo and watermelon seed spitting contests. The Ralph Morgan Rodeo takes place twice a year, in April and August. In the fall, the Queen City Fair brings rides and entertainment. Kids love the steam engines at the early November Soule Live Steam Festival.