Mississippi Festivals

Mississippi Celebrates - Festivals Around The State

To immerse yourself in a culture, you only need to visit the festivals.  In ancient times, people got together to eat, sing, and dance to celebrate their culture and tell their stories.  So, it makes sense that we can learn about a culture, a region, if we eat their food, listen to their music, and spend time with their people.

Mississippi culture is rich.  You can see this best in her food and music.  When people started to settle in this wilderness, they had to rely on what they could find, hunt, and gather to eat.  Soon, they were developing the land to grow more of what they needed.  But, the natural resources of the land were never abandoned or taken for granted.  Let's take a look at some of the celebrations the people of Mississippi still enjoy today.

Festivals You Might Expect

When you think if Mississippi, you might immediately think of catfish.  That would actually be quite accurate.  The city of Belzoni, The Heart of the Delta, is considered the 'Catfish Capital of the World' because of the very large industry of farm-raised catfish.  Of course, you'll find several huge catfish festivals as well as what is known as the 'world's largest fish fry.'

Combine crawfish and music and you'll find an incredible festival.  The Mississippi Coast Coliseum Crawfish Music Festival has it all, as does the Country Cajun Crawfish Festival in Biloxi.  Of course, just about every bar and restaurant in the area will host a crawfish boil during the spring sometime.  At the Seafood Festival in Pass Christian, you can eat your way through from one end to the other and never have the same meal twice.

Music festivals are easy to find, too.  Check out 'Vicksburg's Got the Blues' to indulge in some soothing sounds.  There will always be good food involved.  You can hardly go wrong with the combination of blues and food.  You'll find a variety of music, crafts, and food at the Delta Jubilee in Clarksdale and at the Crossroads Blues and Heritage Festival in Rosedale.

Festivals That May Surprise You

You may expect to get good seafood in Mississippi, but chocolate?  Yes.  At the 'Chocolate Affair' you'll enjoy a special event including wonderful chocolate food and even drinks while enjoy lively music and other entertainment.

If you think the blues is the only music you'll hear, take a second listen.  Enjoy the Spring Hootenanny Hoedown in Olive Branch, and Bluegrass on the Creek in Tylertown.  If you want to dive head first into the culture of the Cotton District in Mississippi, join in the festival in Starkville, which includes music, food, juried art competition, literature, and more.

In Mississippi, you want to start with the catfish festivals, but don't end there.  Follow the back roads and find all the nuances and flavors that this richly diverse state has to offer.