Stickball opening ceremonies Wednesday night

The World Series Stickball Championship Opening Ceremonies and exhibition matches will be held Wednesday night at Pearl River Resort.

Tonight’s Opening Ceremonies at 7 p.m. will honor stickball coaches, players and drummers who have died, said Misty Brescia, director of the Office of Public Relations for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. 

The two exhibition games are a women’s 35-and-over and a men’s 50-years-and over.

Stickball tournament play begins Thursday with teams in five brackets competing — Men, Women, Men over 35, and two youth divisions Tulli Okchi Ishko (ages 14-17) and Pushmataha (ages 10-13). 

This week’s events are associated with the 71 annual Choctaw Indian Fair that officially begins next Wednesday, July 14 at the Amphitheater with the Opening Ceremonies at at 6 p.m. followed by the Choctaw Indian Princess pageant at 7 p.m. 

Professional shows at the Amphitheater are as follows: 

• Thursday, July 15 — Jimmie Allen at 8:30 p.m.

• Friday, July 16 — Zach Williams at 8:30 p.m.

• Saturday, July 17 — Brett Young at 8:30 p.m.

There will be other events such as the Rez Run on Saturday starting at 7 a.m. 

There are exhibitions highlighting Choctaw history, culture and Tribal dances and a midway.

Go to choctawindianfair.com for ticket information and the complete schedule.