The Arts

State Rep. Matt Lori is congratulating the Dowagiac Dogwood Fine Arts Festival for receiving a state grant to support continued operation of the annual event. The Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs recently announced a $5,000 grant to support the festival. The Dowagiac Dogwood Fine Arts Festival is a week-long celebration of the arts every May featuring visual …

Here’s a reminder that tickets for Reba McEntire’s performance at the 2014 St. Joseph County Grange Fair are on sale. Tickets are $94.50 for VIP seating in the first 10 rows, $84.50 for track seats and $79 for grandstand seating. Tickets may be purchased at the fair box office, over the phone at 888-873-0550, or online at startickets.com. The show …

A big name in the country/western music genre will bring her talent to Centreville next year. Officials from the St. Joseph County Grange Fair announced Reba McEntire will be the headline entertainer at the Sept. 20, closing-night performance. The 58-year-old Oklahoma native has won 15 American Music awards, 13 American Country Music awards, nine People’s Choice awards and two Grammy …

Nearly 200 people took part in Friday’s Christmas in Colon holiday gathering  in downtown Colon. Despite cold weather, a crowd gathered along State Street well ahead of the annual parade. The procession started at Colon Elementary and concluded at Colon Community Park, where hot chocolate, cookies and a visit with Santa were available. Sponsored by the Colon Area Chamber of …

Kennedy’s Kitchen and the Celtic Fire Irish Stepdancers will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Riviera Theatre in downtown Three Rivers. All proceeds from the show will benefit the Huss Project, an effort to build community in Three Rivers through food, art, play and friendship. The evening will feature Irish music, dancing, sing-along Christmas carols, complimentary appetizers and a cash …

A variety of Christmas-related celebrations are taking place over the next three days throughout St. Joseph County. In Constantine, the annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony takes place at 6 o’clock tonight. The village is also staging its Fourth of July fireworks fundraiser dinner tonight at Meeks Mill. Dinner settings are at 5 o’clock, 6:30 and 7:30. Also in Constantine Saturday, downtown …

The Christmas season officially kicked off Friday in Three Rivers, as a crowd gathered for the annual tree-lighting ceremony. Staged in the downtown mural mall, the ceremony included music from the Three Rivers High School Aristocrats. It also marked the first of a three-day celebration in downtown Three Rivers, where the Riviera Theatre hosted events Saturday and Sunday. Cookie decorating …

More than 150 people attended Thursday’s opening night of the 57th Mendon Kiwanis Showboat. “The Not-So-Wild West” is the theme of the music and comedy program, which continues tonight and Saturday. A cast of about 35 members drew audience laughter for its between-song skits and jokes and strong applause for its two dozen musical numbers. The cast paid tribute to …

“The Not-So-Wild West,” the theme of the 2013 Mendon Kiwanis Showboat, begins its three-night run this evening. A cast of nearly three dozen people will perform a total of 24 songs and be featured in a variety of comical skits that have become the hallmark of the annual Mendon event over its 56-year life. Organizers of this week’s 57th annual …

The St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Department has announced the winners of the annual Meyer Broadway Park scarecrow contest. The displays were one of many attractions at the park as a part of the Oct. 13 Three Rivers Area Fall Color Tour. A variety of categories were in place and winners were: funniest, “The Three Rivers” by Andrews Elementary …