Optimist Club of Hernando

05/19/2026

05/14/2026

05/06/2026

🚋 Skip the parking search and ride the A’Fair Trolley during the Hernando A'Fair Arts & Crafts Festival!
Park and pay at Kroger Marketplace, then hop on the trolley to explore the festival, enjoy the exhibits at the Desoto County Museum, and visit shops and restaurants around the Square with convenient stops along Commerce Street and Center Street. 🛍️✨
Your trolley payment includes a wristband that allows you to hop on and off the trolley at all designated stops throughout the day.
Before heading home, stop back by Kroger Marketplace to grab your weekend essentials, snacks, or dinner items!
🎟️ $5 per ride
👧 Children under 10 ride FREE
🗓️ May 16th
⏰ 8 AM – 4 PM
All trolley proceeds benefit Wesley Meadows Retirement Community 💜
Hosted by Wesley Meadows Retirement Community
Proud Trolley Sponsor: State Farm – Lauderdale Insurance Agency Inc.

05/02/2026

📣📣Calling all Jr Golfers!!!

This year's Alabama Mississippi Optimist District Qualifying Golf Tournament is set for May 28, 2026 at the Glen Lakes Golf Club in Foley, Alabama. The one-day event is $90 per player (fee covered by Club) and features four boys divisions and three girls divisions. The boys divisions are 10 - 11; 12 - 13; 14 - 15 and 16 - 18, The girls divisions are 10 - 12; 13 - 14 and 15 - 18.

The goal for many of our participants is to qualify for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship at Trump Doral National Resort & Spa located in Miami, Florida by matching or bettering the "Qualifying Scores" for their age group.

If you are interested - complete, print, scan form and send to Melissa McCarty Dunham

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qpj-FQbzzYH4dP45zM8deXnlfWaFnWgi/edit?pli=1

04/29/2026

Celebrating Young Voices in Hernando! ✨🎤

The Optimist Club of Hernando is proud to recognize the outstanding participants in our Annual Oratorical Contest, where students showcase their confidence, creativity, communication skills, and optimism.

👏 Congratulations to our winners:
🥈 Kiarra Molden, 8th grade, Hernando Middle School – 2nd Place
🥇 Autumn Branch, 9th grade, Hernando High School – 1st Place

Autumn went on to represent Hernando at the Regional Oratorical Contest and brought home another 1st Place win! What an incredible achievement!

The Oratorical Contest not only builds leadership and public speaking skills, but also awards scholarships to participants. As students advance through each level of competition, scholarship opportunities increase, making this an amazing program for our youth.

📚 Hernando, Lewisburg and Lake Cormorant Teachers: If you’re interested in sharing this opportunity with your students, we would love to connect!
Contact us at [email protected]

Let’s continue encouraging and supporting the next generation of leaders right here in Hernando!

04/29/2026

We awarded Scholarships to Seniors Emilee Darby LHS & Adam Butler LC.

Congratulations!

04/28/2026

Recipients of the Optimist Club of Hernando Scholarships.

HHS Seniors - Emilee Flynn & Anderson Argo

Not pictured Jorga Brown.

Congratulations!!!

04/23/2026

A' Fair Arts & Crafts Festival Kicks off Friday night on the historic town square!
May, 15th at 7PM
Bring a lawn chair or blanket

04/22/2026

Kids Fishing Rodeo
Lee Summit Park
May 2: Registration 8AM-9AM
More info:
https://www.cityofhernando.org/departments/parks-recreation/classes-programs/classes #:~:text=Fishing%20Rodeo%20-%20More,May%202nd%2C%202026

04/02/2026

The Hernando Optimist Club is honored to be named DeSoto’s Best Festival for 12 consecutive years!

Thank you to our visitors and supporters who continue to make this the best arts and crafts festival in North Mississippi—we couldn’t do it without you!

03/30/2026

🏃‍♀️🎨 Lace up + Shop Local = The Perfect Hernando Day! 🎨🏃‍♂️

The Hernando Optimist Club Laurie Wylie Memorial 5K is back and better than ever—right in the heart of our beautiful historic town square!

This exciting race takes place alongside the beloved Hernando Optimist Club A’Fair Arts & Crafts Festival, surrounding the iconic DeSoto County Courthouse and downtown Main Street—so you can run, shop, eat, and enjoy all in one day!

✨ What’s new this year?
⏱️ Digital timing for a more accurate, competitive race experience
🎉 A vibrant race atmosphere in the middle of one of DeSoto County’s largest festivals

💙 Why it matters:
Every step you take supports the Laurie Wylie Scholarship, helping invest in the future of our local students.

📅 Grab your friends, bring the family, and make a day of it—this is more than a race, it’s a community celebration!

👉 Register now:

The 21st Annual Laurie Wylie Memorial 5K is on Saturday May 16, 2026.