A Fairly Comprehensive List of 2024 Community Events in the Mississippi Delta(ish)
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.)
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.)
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 11-14: Juke Joint Festival, Clarksdale
April 19-20: 3rd Annual Vicksburg Arts and 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
August 3-4: Watermelon Carnival, Water Valley
August 9-11: Sunflower River Blues + Gospel Fest, Clarksdale
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
September 28: Sam Chatmon Blues Festival, Hollandale
October 5-6: Mules and Blues Festival, Marks
October 5: Highway 61 Blues Festival, Leland
October 10-12: King Biscuit Blues Festival, Helena, AR
October 11-12: OctoberFest, Cleveland
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 24: OtherFest, Merigold
October 26: Great Delta Bear Affair, Rolling Fork
November 2: Vicksburg Porchfest,, Vicksburg
November 11: 50 Nights of Lights, Cleveland
December 7: Christmas on Deer Creek, Leland
** 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)
Christmas Parade, Water Valley (December)
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.