Outlets of Mississippi lines up fall events, new stores and holiday kickoff

The Outlets of Mississippi in Pearl will roll out new store openings, food festivals and car shows through November, with events designed to draw shoppers and raise money for local charities. The center also plans an early Black Friday opening at 8 a.m. on Nov. 27.

Why it matters: - The Outlets of Mississippi is using fall programming to drive traffic ahead of the holiday shopping season. - The center is tying retail events to community fundraising, which adds a local-service angle to the shopping calendar. - The schedule gives the state’s largest outlet destination multiple reasons for repeat visits over the next six weeks.

What happened: - The Outlets of Mississippi in Pearl announced a run of fall events and store openings starting Oct. 2. - The center will celebrate the grand opening of a 3,000-square-foot Clarks store on Friday, Oct. 2. - Under Armour and Anytime Fitness will host a morning workout and private shopping event on Oct. 3. - Foodeesfest will run Oct. 2-4 with more than 40 food trucks and dozens of artisans. - Spirit Halloween has already opened, and Toys R Us is set to open Monday, Oct. 5. - The center will host “Revvin for a Reason,” its first annual open car show, on Oct. 17. - The Red, White & Rev Open Car Show is scheduled for Nov. 7. - Stores will open at 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27 for holiday shopping deals.

The details: - Kathy Hackshaw, director of retail, said the next six weeks will bring “constant activity with a heart.” - The Oct. 17 car show is sponsored by Tower Loan. - Registration for “Revvin for a Reason” is $25. - Proceeds from the Oct. 17 event will benefit Palmer Home for Children, which provides residential care, foster care and support services for children in critical situations. - The Nov. 7 Red, White & Rev Open Car Show is presented by the Mississippi Street Rod Association. - Proceeds from the Nov. 7 event will benefit 5th Squad, which provides immediate, life-sustaining assistance to veterans in crisis. - The Nov. 7 event will include vendor booths, live music, food and drinks. - The center says the event will feature cars of all years, makes and models, plus raffles, music and food trucks on Oct. 17. - The Nov. 7 car show will include iconic cars, powerful engines and restored vehicles, with owners, experts and enthusiasts on site. - The outlet center is located at the intersection of Interstates 55 and 20, about five minutes from Jackson. - The center says it is the only outlet center within a two-hour drive of other popular destinations. - The property draws visitors from a 200-mile radius and more than 4.5 million visitors per year. - Rankin County’s population is expected to top 160,000 by 2030. - For more information and sales updates, visit OutletsofMS.com. - The release also directs readers to www.outletsofms.com for the store directory, sale and special event information and driving directions.

Between the lines: - The fall lineup pairs experiential retail with charity events, a common strategy for malls and outlet centers trying to stand out from online shopping. - The early holiday opening signals the center wants to capture shoppers before the Black Friday rush becomes crowded. - The mix of food, fitness, cars and stores suggests the property is trying to broaden its audience beyond traditional bargain hunters.

What's next: - The Clarks opening, workout event and Foodeesfest will kick off the fall schedule on Oct. 2-4. - The car show on Oct. 17 will be the first fundraising auto event in the series. - Holiday shopping begins early on Nov. 27 with an 8 a.m. opening. - The Outlets of Mississippi will continue promoting sales and event listings online as the season unfolds.