Page 36 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2018

LMDC celebrates 20 years
Happy Birthday
Discovery Center Turns 20
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center (LMDC) is turning 20! As the first children’s museum in the state of Mississippi, Lynn Meadows created some big shoes to fill. Twenty years later, the museum continues to grow and thrive.
“The center will celebrate its 20th birthday on May 5 at 5 p.m.with a big celebration on our museum grounds,” said Sonja Gillis, director of marketing and public relations
at LMDC. “The party will include a fun bicycle parade
for kids, live music, a memories ceremony, children’s activities, a cake contest and more with a fabulous fireworks finale!”
The museum invites children to embellish their bikes and wagons with brightly colored Cinco de Mayo themed decor and wear Kentucky Derby style hats to parade down the green. Guests are encouraged to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs to watch the parade. Line-up will begin at approximately 5 p.m.
The event is free to the public and museum admission is free. Concessions will be available for purchase.
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
photos courtesy of Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
When Lynn Meadows Discovery Center (LMDC) opened its doors 20 years ago, its primary function was that of
a children’s museum. But what about the youth who outgrew the children’s programs?
“We began the WINGS performing arts programs approximately one year after the museum’s opening,” said Tonya Hays, LMDC’s performing arts director. “We felt it was a way to keep children and youth engaged at Lynn Meadows after they aged out of the museum.”
While WINGS was originally targeted toward young adolescents, the program has since grown to include anyone from kindergarten through college.
Each year WINGS presents 10 shows, including new works, musicals and classics, as well as special activities such as the 10 Minute Play Festival, Rubber Chicken Improv Festival and the Focus On Film Festival. Many
of the shows have open auditions. “Anyone can try out and they will be welcome,” Hays said. “We also accept applications in the summer for all our groups, including a home school troop that meets during the day.”
The program has become a launching pad for the Coast’s youth, serving not only as an educational backbone
but helping students as they apply for undergraduate education as well. “Ninety-nine percent of our students go on to attend college and universities and all of them have scholarship offers,” Hays said.
228.897.6039 • thays@lmdc.org This special section is brought to you by our presenting sponsors
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