Mississippi's main annual events are ideal for lovers of Blues music and seafood. For more information on Mississippi, see Visit Mississippi, the state's official tourism board.
Early March to Early April and Late-September to mid-October, Natchez. An open-house of Natchez's antebellum homes and historic mansions. The popular event, which takes place in spring and fall, has been going strong since 1932.More »
Mid- to late April, Gulfport/Biloxi. Voted a top 20 event in the Southeast, this food festival features a crawfish cook-off as well as lots of live bands and food seafood vendors.More »
First weekend in May, Columbus. Approximately 40,000 visitors flock to Columbus for the Market Street Festival, a weekend of arts, crafts, food, and music.More »
Beginning of June, Tupelo. The city of Elvis Presley's birth hosts an annual music festival in his honor.More »
Late August, Indianola. The home of blues legend B.B. King hosts a music festival dedicated to his music each year. The B.B. King Museum, also located in Indianola, organizes this event and other music events throughout the year.More »
Mid-September, Biloxi. Biloxi sure does love its seafood, a fact that is made clear at the Biloxi Seafood Festival, which is, along with the Coliseum Crawfish Music Festival and the Blessing of the Biloxi Fleet, one of the three major seafood-focused events on the coast.More »
Late September, Greenville. Since 1978, this blues music festival has grown to become one of the oldest continually operating blues festivals in the country and attracting blues legends from B.B. King to Muddy Waters and more.More »
Early to Mid-October, Jackson. The classic agricultural fair, featuring food, music, arts & crafts, and more.More »
•Mississippi Blues Marathon
January, Jackson. This sporting event, which includes a marathon and a half-marathon, attracts runners as well as revelers, who can enjoy live blues music and a street party atmosphere.More »•Natchez Spring Pilgrimage
Early March to Early April and Late-September to mid-October, Natchez. An open-house of Natchez's antebellum homes and historic mansions. The popular event, which takes place in spring and fall, has been going strong since 1932.More »
•Coliseum Crawfish Music Festival
Mid- to late April, Gulfport/Biloxi. Voted a top 20 event in the Southeast, this food festival features a crawfish cook-off as well as lots of live bands and food seafood vendors.More »
•Market Street Festival
First weekend in May, Columbus. Approximately 40,000 visitors flock to Columbus for the Market Street Festival, a weekend of arts, crafts, food, and music.More »
•Biloxi Blessing of the Fleet
End of May/Beginning of June, Biloxi. A tradition dating back to 1929, the Biloxi Blessing is an official ceremony blessing the shrimp boat fleet at the beginning of the fishing season. Over the years, the event has grown to include a food festival centered on the crustacean and the many dishes that can be made with it.More »•Tupelo Elvis Festival
Beginning of June, Tupelo. The city of Elvis Presley's birth hosts an annual music festival in his honor.More »
•B.B. King Homecoming Festival
Late August, Indianola. The home of blues legend B.B. King hosts a music festival dedicated to his music each year. The B.B. King Museum, also located in Indianola, organizes this event and other music events throughout the year.More »
•Biloxi Seafood Festival
Mid-September, Biloxi. Biloxi sure does love its seafood, a fact that is made clear at the Biloxi Seafood Festival, which is, along with the Coliseum Crawfish Music Festival and the Blessing of the Biloxi Fleet, one of the three major seafood-focused events on the coast.More »
•Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival
Late September, Greenville. Since 1978, this blues music festival has grown to become one of the oldest continually operating blues festivals in the country and attracting blues legends from B.B. King to Muddy Waters and more.More »
•Mississippi State Fair
Early to Mid-October, Jackson. The classic agricultural fair, featuring food, music, arts & crafts, and more.More »