Events
If you’re looking for fun things to do this weekend, the Mississippi Delta has you covered.
From blues festivals music festivals to food festivals, film festivals, and even frog festivals and catfish festivals, there are events throughout the region throughout the year.
Up in Tunica is the annual Rivergate Festival featuring crawfish and music. Clarksdale has the Juke Joint Festival every year attracting blues lovers and aspiring blues musicians from around the world. The city of Cleveland is festooned with over a million Christmas lights each year during its 50 Nights of Lights celebration from mid-November until New Years. Greenwood hosts cyclists from all over the nation at their Bikes, Brews, and Bayous event each summer. Greenville is the home to the world famous Delta Hot Tamale Festival each fall. Then there’s the Bentonia Blues Festival the third Saturday every June in colorful Yazoo City. The RiverFest Arts & Crafts Show in Vicksburg, Mississippi, happening in April of each year features homemade arts and crafts from southern artisans.
For more information on these and other events happening in the Mississippi Delta, keep reading!
Tunica Events
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Rivergate Festival
Perfect for crawfish lovers and music fans, this event is held in scenic downtown Tunica. Good food, carnival activities and live entertainment draws families from all over the Mid-South. This annual festival is scheduled for April.
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Free Blues Concert on Gateway to the Blues stage
To celebrate blues and support local festivals in the fall, the Gateway to the Blues Museum features a local artist to perform on the outdoor stage. Bring a lawn chair, a cooler and enjoy some live music and Delta atmosphere at the free concert. Held annually in early October.
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Upcoming Entertainment
Tunica, Mississippi, is a hub for concerts, comedy shows, MMA/boxing matches, and more. Whether you’re looking to rock, hang or laugh, check out the calendar of events to see what’s on deck during your stay. Past performers include Dwight Yoakam, Gladys Knight, The Band Perry, The Isley Brothers, Sinbad, Bill Engvall . . .
Tunica also features local bands at the casino stage bars daily.
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Current Promotions
Along with sweet Southern hospitality, enjoy excellent deals on things to do in Tunica. From dining and lodging discounts to player card specials, there are multiple ways to get more bang for your buck while you’re in town. And our promotions include all the current casino giveaways, drawings and bonuses. Promotions are added monthly, so be sure to check before you head to Tunica.
Clarksdale Events
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Juke Joint Festival
Join Blues enthusiasts and aspiring Blues musicians from around the world at probably the most authentic Blues Festival anywhere: Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Along with dozens of venues offering live blues music throughout the day, you'll find an arts market, a wide selection of street food, many free events, and fellowship with other blues fans from around the world.
Second Weekend in April
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Women in Blues Festival
Each May you can check out up and coming female Blues artists at the new Women in Blues festival in two locations: downtown Clarksdale and across the river on Cherry Street in downtown Helena, Arkansas. Not only does the event offer music, but ticket holders get access to blues history tours, yoga sessions, cocktail receptions and afterparties.
Mid May
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Might Roots Festival
Held in the middle of cotton fields at nearby Stovall Farms, the Mighty Roots Festival brings together musicians and fans for two early nights in late September. Camping on site is available, as are RV spaces. The festival could be a great way to kick off a week exploring the entire Delta region.
Third Weekend in September
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Mississippi Delta Tennessee Williams Festival
A celebration of everything Tennessee Williams. The event features talks, music, demonstrations, tours, receptions, and parties. It also allows ample opportunity to meet and network with other lovers of Tennessee Williams, and Southern Literature in general, from across the globe.
Early - Mid October
Cleveland Events
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50 Nights of Lights
The second Saturday in November – the First Saturday in January
Each year from mid-November until New Years, Cleveland’s historic downtown is lit up with hundreds of thousands of twinkly lights and huge holiday light displays. Fast becoming a holiday family tradition for many, it’s definitely one of the best Christmas events in Mississippi. In addition to the lights displays, there are a number of complementary events going on throughout the season including Cleveland’s Holiday Open House. The lights shine nightly, and this holiday event is absolutely free.
For more information, check out
www.50nightsoflights.com -
Crosstie Arts & Jazz Festival
The third Saturday in April
For years a highlight of the spring events in Mississippi, a Delta tradition continues under the massive oaks of the historic Bolivar County Courthouse in downtown Cleveland. The annual Crosstie Arts and Jazz Festival, a juried fine arts show, will feature hundreds of exhibitors displaying paintings, sculpture, pottery, textile and paper arts, and hand-made furniture and jewelry from around the southeast.
For more information, check out
www.crosstiefestival.com -
Octoberfest
The first Saturday in October
One of the best fall events in Mississippi, Octoberfest combines music, art and BBQ on the beautiful greenway in downtown Cleveland. The arts market features an array of handicrafts and foods from around the Southeast. The concerts, which happen throughout the day and end in a street dance in the evening, bring together a diverse group of musicians and group offering up jazz, country, americana, and soulful R&B. And the BBQ? More than 70 teams set up along the bayou to compete in this national qualification event.
For more information, check out
www.octoberfestms.com -
Bolgona Performing Arts Center (BPAC) Shows
Throughout the year
The state-of-the-art facility located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta features nationally touring concerts, plays, Broadway musicals, comedy, movies, independent film, dance, and educational programs throughout the year. From some of the best Country concerts in Mississippi, to some of the best shows for kids in the state, BPAC is the premier performing arts center in the region. Overnight packages with The Cotton House and Lyric West Hotel properties may be available for your concert or event. Check out their website for details.
For more information, check out
www.bolognapac.com
Greenwood Events
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Bikes, Blues, and Bayous
The Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual BBB cycling event. The rides begin in historic downtown Greenwood, home of Viking Range Corp. Mississippi's LARGEST RIDE averaged over 1,000 riders in 5 of the last 6 years and was selected as a "Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event Winner" for 2018, 2019 & 2021! Join us to ride the fast and flat alluvial plains of the Delta and discover "the BEST Southern Hospitality on Earth".
Early August
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Que on the Yazoo
Nestled along the banks of the Yazoo River, Que on the Yazoo is a BBQ cooking competition held the last weekend in April. Featuring live music and activities for BBQ enthusiasts of all ages. There is no admission fee.
Que on the Yazoo is sanctioned through the Memphis Barbecue Network (MBN) and is a Patio & Championship Competition.
Held in historic downtown Greenwood, which celebrates a unique culinary heritage as it is home to Viking Range, countless Delta eateries and The Viking Cooking School. It is a fundraising project of Main Street Greenwood, Inc.
Early April
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300 Oaks Race
The annual 300 Oaks Road Races is one of the oldest races in Mississippi. Steeped in tradition and founded in Greenwood by the inspiration of the original 300 oak trees that were planted along Grand Boulevard decades ago, this event offers something for the entire family!
Offering a 10k run, a 5k run, a 5k walk and a one-mile fun run. Each course takes you through various areas of town, including our historic downtown area and our new RailSpike Park trail (10k), and the beautiful shaded residential streets where residents are likely to be on hand to cheer you on.
Mid September
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Delta Band Festival and Christmas Parade
It's been said that everyone loves a parade, and Mississippi's oldest and largest Christmas Parade in Greenwood is a must-see. It is held on the second Friday after Thanksgiving each year.
Celebrated for more than 80 years and begun by legendary Greenwood High School Band Director, Roy Martin, the Delta Band Festival/Christmas Parade in Greenwood boasts more than 25 high school and university bands from four states, an array of themed floats, decorative vehicles, mascots, beauties, and walking and performing groups.
Early December
Greenville Events
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Fishing Tournaments
The Greenville Mississippi area is a great destination for bass fishing tournaments. Whether team tournaments, individual tournaments, or special events, and whether on lake or river, there's likely a fishing tournament that's perfect for you.
Throughout the year
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“Jim Henson” Frog Fest
The community of Leland, Mississippi hosts the “Jim Henson” Frog Fest to celebrate the Henson Exhibit in the Mississippi Delta. This event features hands on arts venues, professional story-tellers, magicians, live music, Delta cuisine and live puppet performances. Also, the annual Deer Creek Chili Cook off and 5K run. Visit their website for more information.
Mid September
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Delta Hot Tamale Festival
The Annual Delta Hot Tamale Festival in Greenville, Mississippi has become a three day event which highlights and promotes musicians, authors and southern food vendors. Welcome to the Hot and Soul of the Delta. You may also visit their website or like them on their Facebook page listed as Delta Hot Tamale Festival.
Mid October
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Highway 61 Blues Festival
The Highway 61 Blues Festival is held in downtown Leland! Admission is free, but we ask that you donate a couple of canned items to The Leland Food Pantry. The outdoor festival features a musical line up of authentic Mississippi Delta Blues artists. There is food and drink vendors as well as crafts and other vendors from around the state. Held in historic downtown Leland, Mississippi.
Mid September
Yazoo City Events
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Yazoo County Fair
Annually in the month of October, the Yazoo County Fair is known as the second oldest county fair in all of Mississippi. It includes all your favorite rides as well as classic fair food. With many unique attractions, the Yazoo County Fair is one of a kind with free parking as well as all rides and attractions being included in the admission ticket!
Mid October
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Bentonia Blues Festival
The Bentonia Blues Festival began in 1972 on a farm just up the road from the world-famous Blue Front Cafe on land owned by the Holmes family. It was a tiny event, with only one D.J. and Walter “Big Daddy” Hood performing acapella. Since that time, the festival has grown from an attendance of a couple hundred to ten thousand in recent years. The festival has attracted blues performers and fans from far and wide and is always starting the third Saturday of June.
Third Saturday in June
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Holiday Celebration
Yazoo rolls out the red carpet every year for the Holidays! Many of the buildings in Yazoo City are draped in colorful lights during the entire Holiday season (mid-November through January 1). Community groups, civic clubs, and businesses make the season even more magical by presenting special events throughout the season including an annual Christmas parade that rides all throughout the city!
Throughout December
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Live Music
Yazoo County is known as one of the starter places for the Mississippi Blues. That’s why, throughout the entire year, there’s live music events where you can go and listen to classic Mississippi Blues music. From restaurants to the Blue Front Cafe, you can always find a live music event to keep the Mississippi Blues alive.
Throughout the year
Vicksburg Events
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Mighty ‘Sip Fest
Celebrate FOUR DAYS OF EVENTS in Vicksburg celebrating creativity in the arts. Events include the Vicksburg Arts & Music Festival featuring Alcorn State University Jazz Fest, Saturday 'Sip Stroll, Vicksburg Chamber Choir Spring Concert, Vicksburg Art Association Spring Show, Sunday Jazz Brunch, live art demonstrations at Mulberry and Attic Gallery, Gold in the Hills, and more!
Mid April
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Independence Day Fireworks Show
Enjoy the longest fireworks show on the Mississippi River at 9:00 pm in Downtown Vicksburg in front of the Old Depot Museum, 1010 Levee Street. The fireworks celebration will follows live music in the evening after other Independence Day events at the Vicksburg Military Park.
4th of July
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Bricks & Spokes
A series of cycling events, featuring a choice between different durations and road surfaces begins in beautiful Downtown Vicksburg and travels across the Old Mississippi River Bridge into the flat land of Louisiana through the rolling hills of Vicksburg and then into the Vicksburg National Military Park. All bikes, as well as all skill levels, are welcome.
Mid October
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Supper on the Sip
Supper on the ‘Sip gives guests a chance to stroll along the Old Mississippi River Bridge, sampling selections from local restaurants and enjoying live music at various stages along the way. A professional photographer will be on-site to capture the incredible evening, as will a local artist, who will paint scenes from the evening. Guests will have the chance to win the original artwork through a raffle.
Mid October