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This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

On Saturday, the JFP sponsors the Jackson 2000 Friendship Ball at 7 p.m. at Hal & Mal’s. Credit: Trip Burns

Today, MINDgasm Erotic Poetry Night is at 8 p.m. at Soul Wired Cafe. Includes live music and break dancing. $5, $3 poets; call 601-863-6378. Need more options? See our Best Bets.

On Saturday, the JFP sponsors the Jackson 2000 Friendship Ball at 7 p.m. at Hal & Mal’s (200 Commerce St.). The organization honors physician Dr. Helen Barnes, businessman Hibbett Neal and the Mississippi Learning Institute. These Days with Jewel Bass performs. Attire is casual. $20, $10 students with ID; jackson2000.org. The Wild Feathers perform at 7 p.m. at Ole Tavern. For ages 18 and up. $10 at the door; call 601-292-7121; ardenland.net. For more events, check out the JFP Events Calendar.

On Sunday, the Stop the Violence Gospel Concert is at 4 p.m. at Relevant Empowerment Church (3900 W. Northside Drive). Free; call 281-780-9997. Also, be sure to take some time to support a local restaurant such as Bon Ami, Two Sisters Kitchen, Julep, Cool Al’s, or Cerami’s. If you want more dining options, see JFP Restaurant Listings and the Menu Guide.

Is something missing? To make sure your event is listed on the JFP calendars, send the information to events@jacksonfreepress.com or music@jacksonfreepress.com, or add your event yourself. It’s easy!

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The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.

Digital Editor Dustin Cardon is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi where he studied journalism. He started his journalism career years ago at the Jackson Free Press in Mississippi’s capital city as an intern and worked his way up to web editor, a role he now holds within the Mississippi Free Press. Dustin enjoys reading fantasy novels and wants to write them himself one day. Email him at dustin@mississippifreepress.org.