{"id":24525,"date":"2024-03-15T12:06:10","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T17:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/?post_type=landing&p=24525"},"modified":"2026-04-30T17:24:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T22:24:45","slug":"festivals","status":"publish","type":"landing","link":"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/go\/festivals\/","title":{"rendered":"Best of the Fests"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Best of the Fests<\/h1>\n

If you’re looking for a good time, look no further than Mississippi. Our state offers an eclectic array of annual events, celebrating everything from blues music to the arts plus a few of our favorite holidays, too. So clear your calendar and make plans to hit some of our biggest and best festivals this year.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade, Jackson <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Shamrock Shindig <\/h2>\n

Hal\u2019s St. Paddy\u2019s Parade & Festival, now in its 43rd year, has been described as a \u201cgreen Mardi Gras\u201d and a \u201clighthearted homecoming where everyone is king and queen for a day.\u201d The event features floats, marching bands, a street dance, and a pet parade, all culminating in an after-party (ticketed event, 21+ only<\/a>) featuring live music performed outside of Hal & Mal’s restaurant. The annual event raises funds for Children\u2019s of Mississippi.<\/p>\n

Date: March 22, 2025
\nLocation: Downtown Jackson<\/p>\n

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Learn More<\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n King Cotton Crawfish Boil, Starkville <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Battle of the Boil<\/h2>\n

At Starkville’s King Cotton Crawfish Boil, cooking teams compete to win bragging rights for the festival’s best boiled crawfish. Festival attendees go from booth to booth to sample crawfish (and assorted additions like potatoes and sausage). The annual event benefits the Starkville Main Street Association.<\/p>\n

Date: April 26, 2025
\nLocation: The Hub Plaza, Starkville<\/p>\n

Learn More<\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n Juke Joint Festival, Clarksdale <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Juke Jam<\/h2>\n

Every year, the city known as “ground zero of the blues” comes alive with music during their annual Juke Joint Festival. More than 100 performances will take place, from morning to night, inside the city’s clubs, juke joints, and at numerous outdoor stages and storefronts. The festival features arts & crafts tents, workshops, and food and drink vendors, too.<\/p>\n

Dates: April 12, 2025
\nLocation: Downtown Clarksdale<\/p>\n

Learn More<\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n Double Decker Arts Festival, Oxford <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Double Your Fun<\/h2>\n

The Double Decker Arts Festival is a two-day celebration of music, food, and the arts on Oxford’s historic downtown Square. The free event, which was inspired by a double-decker bus imported from England in 1994, features over 100 arts and crafts exhibitors and food vendors. Live music performances are on stage Friday night and throughout the day on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Dates: April 25-26, 2025
\nLocation: The Square, Oxford<\/p>\n

Learn More<\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n Tupelo Elvis Festival <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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The King’s Singers<\/h2>\n

The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll may be gone, but he’s not forgotten in Tupelo. Every year, Elvis Presley tribute artists, young and old, flock to the city to perform at the city’s Elvis Festival and compete for cash prizes at the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist and youth competition. The annual event also features a “Running with the King” 5K race.<\/p>\n

Dates: June 4-8, 2025
\nLocation: Downtown Tupelo (performances at Cadence Bank arena)<\/p>\n

Learn More<\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n Mississippi Book Festival, Jackson <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Book It<\/h2>\n

Mississippi’s “Literary Lawn Party” draws thousands of visitors to Jackson each year to connect with hundreds of national, regional, and local authors, listen to panel discussions, and market self-published books in Authors Alley. The event was launched in 2015 and has quickly become one of the capital city’s most popular and well-attended annual events.<\/p>\n

Date: September 13, 2025
\nLocation: Downtown Jackson (State Capitol Building, Galloway Church)<\/p>\n

Learn More<\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n Cruisin’ the Coast, Coastal Mississippi <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Cruise Control<\/h2>\n

“America’s Largest Block Party,” Cruisin’ the Coast, is the state’s biggest special event, with car cruises, events, and performances held at cities all along Coastal Mississippi including Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, D\u2019Iberville, Gulfport, Pass Christian, Ocean Springs and Pascagoula. Thousands of car enthusiasts from across the U.S. and abroad come to view antique, classic, and hot rod vehicles and enjoy nostalgic music and related events.<\/p>\n

Dates: October 5-12, 2025
\nLocation: Various locations, Coastal Mississippi<\/p>\n

Learn More<\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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More Fun Festivals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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