A Fairly Comprehensive List of 2024 Community Events in the Mississippi Delta(ish)

Kudzu, Mississippi’s unofficial plant since 1934.

January is for plan-making.

Feeling a touch homesick for Mississippi, I thought I’d make a list for, well, pretty much everybody: including all you fellow Mississippians, you Mississippi-appreciators, you adventurous folk always gunnin’ for a road trip, and especially for folks who’ve never been to Mississippi, but have a lot of preconceived notions about it. :)

(Also, because I‘m a painter, so you will see my paintings and photos of the Delta scattered thoughout this blog.)

Mississippi Clouds, limited edition print, 17” x 23”, 2021.

Yes, small town events are great for tourism. Duh.

BUT, really and truly more importantly, these festivals provide opportunities for improving the quality of life in the local communities AND for giving folks reasons to work across the aisle, so to speak. And Lord knows we need more of that. Trust and goodwill (often) arise when you spend time with people working toward common goal, particularly when you prioritize relationship-building in the process. (Please, please prioritize relationship-building in any kind of community-committee work.)

Pinetop Perkins’ birthplace and homestead, Belzoni, Mississippi.

Without further ado, I give you:

twelve months** of reasons to explore and visit the Mississippi Delta in 2024.

All of these are open to the public, and most are free to attend. Each listing is linked to the event’s website for more information. Mark your calendar and pack that cooler - the Delta is hoppin’!

• January 1-27: Delta Deep Roots, Winter Series, Cleveland.

• January 26-28: Clarksdale Music + Film Festival

• February 10: Vicksburg Main Street Mardi Gras Parade 

• March 23: Viking Half-Marathon, Greenwood 

• April 6: 48th Annual World Catfish Festival, Belzoni

• April 6: Crosstie Arts + Jazz Festival, Cleveland

• April 11-14: Juke Joint Festival, Clarksdale 

• April 19-20: 3rd Annual Vicksburg Arts and Music Festival

Big Sky Lake, limited edition print, 12” x 18”, 2022.

• May 3-4: Mockingbird Songwriters Festival, Leland

• May 11: Clarksdale Caravan Music Festival 

• May 24-25: Ground Zero Blues Club 21st Anniversary Weekend, Clarksdale

• June 14-16: Birthplace of American Music Fest,  Clarksdale

• June 14-16: Bentonia Blues Festival, Bentonia

• June 18-20: Tunica County Juneteenth Festival

Quitman County Visitor’s Center, Marks, Mississippi.

• August 3-4: Watermelon Carnival, Water Valley

• August 9-11: Sunflower River Blues + Gospel Fest, Clarksdale

• August 28: Emmett Till Annual Candlelight Vigil, Glendora

• August 31: Red’s OId-Timers Music Fest, Clarksdale - Red Paden, legendary owner of Red’s, a juke joint in Clarksdale, passed away on Dec 30, 2023. RIP.

• September 13-14: Mighty Roots Festival, Clarksdale

• September 19: Emmett Till Annual Balloon Release, Glendora

Five Days Gone, limited edition print, 10” x 10”, 2023.

• October 5-6: Mules and Blues Festival, Marks

• October 10-12: King Biscuit Blues Festival, Helena, AR

• October 13: Pinetop Perkins Homecoming Celebration, Hopson Plantation, Clarksdale.

• October 17-19: Tennessee Williams Festival, Clarksdale

• October 17-20: Deep Blues Festival, Clarksdale

• October 18-19: Delta Hot Tamale Festival, Greenville

• October 24-27: Hambone Festival, Clarksdale

• October 26: Great Delta Bear Affair, Rolling Fork 

• November 11: 50 Nights of Lights, Cleveland

Riverside Hotel in Clarksdale, Mississippi. According to the MS Blues Trail Marker, “Since 1944, the Riverside Hotel has provided lodging for traveling musicians. It was home to some, including Sonny Boy Williamson II, Ike Turner, and Robert Nighthawk. Before that, the building served African Americans of the Delta as the G.T. Thomas Hospital. Blues singer Bessie Smith died here in 1937 from injuries sustained in a car accident while traveling to Clarksdale for a performance.”

** Top-notch events with dates TBA:

• Dirt Fest. Merigold (March)

• Tunica Rivergate Festival, Tunica (April)

• Que on the Yazoo, Greenwood (April)

• Crawfish Festival, Leland (May)

• Five Star City Fest, Senatobia (May)

• Vicksburg Juneteenth Heritage Festival, Vicksburg (June)

• Eli-Pride of the Yazoo River Festival, Satartia (july)

• Bikes, Blues, + Bayou, Greenwood (August)

• Mississippi Delta Blues & Heritage Festival, Greenville (September)

• Rice Festival, Merigold (September)

• Sam Chatmon Blues Festival, Hollandale (September)

• Octoberfest, Cleveland (October, duh.)

• Vicksburg Porchfest,, Vicksburg (October)

• OtherFest, Merigold/Cleveland (October)

• Highway 61 Blues Festival, Leland (October)

• Christmas on Deer Creek, Leland (December)

• Christmas Parade, Water Valley (December)

More Than an Asset, limited edition print, 10” x 10”, 2023.

As always - let me know in the comments what I’m missing!

P.S. As you plan your travel for the year, be sure to check out A Quick 48 Hours, my blog series chock full of weekend itineraries in the Mississippi Delta.

P.P.S. When you visit Mississippi, make sure you know the language. Read Mississippi-isms for full translation.

Tamale Shack somewhere outside of Greenville, Mississippi.