MENDOTA - Enjoy a delicious dinner followed by an array of local talent at the 33rd Annual Pops ‘N Pasta Dinner at Mendota High School. Tickets for the annual event are now on sale at Sports n Stuff, downtown Mendota. The dinner will take place on Saturday, May 12 from 5-7 p.m. in the MHS cafeteria.

The meal is an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner, which includes Avanti’s famous spaghetti and Italian bread, salad, pie and coffee, tea, lemonade or milk. Advance tickets for the dinner are not required as anyone is welcome to purchase a meal that evening.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the MHS auditorium. The performance is free but all seats are reserved. Tickets for the concert are also available at Sports n Stuff.

This year’s concert will feature performances by the MHS Concert and Treble Choirs as well as The Rhythm Express Show Choir. The program includes, “Let All the World in Every Corner Sing” by Ralph Vaughan Williams and featuring Shinae Lee Kim and Christopher Dortwegt on piano, “Be Thou A Smooth Way” by Ralph Johnson, “Kyrie” from A Caribbean Mass by Glenn McClure featuring guest artist Daron Roberts on steel drum, “Who Can Sail Without the Wind” by Dan Forrest, and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” arranged by Peter J. Wilhousky. 

The senior choir members will be recognized and the prestigious Arion Award for outstanding senior choir student will be presented that evening.

In addition, The Rhythm Express Show Choir will perform a 30-minute song and dance show. This year’s set list will guide the audience through an “interstellar” experience. The Rhythm Express members include Gabrielle Brown, Blaire Collins, Payton Klatt, Leilani Landeros, Brooke Lee, Lily Linden, Dasie Newkirk, Maddy Pappas, Joanna Vasquez, Katherine Wohrley, Bobby Arteaga, Patrick Foley, Fabian Gomez, Matthew Grenter, Cole Pursell, Emilio Raya, Dylan Saylor, Jacob Stohr and Dekin Walter. Choreographer for the Rhythm Express is Shannon Argubright, owner and operator of The Dance Center in LaSalle.

Pops ‘N Pasta will take place on Saturday, May 12 (please note the change in day of the week from previous years) at Mendota High School. Dinner tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for children under 12.