Good to know
Good to Know
- Jackson's signature events are heavily rooted in civil rights history and African American cultural heritage, reflecting the city's pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement.
- The National Folk Festival's three-year residency (2024-2026) in Jackson marks the first time the festival has been held in the Deep South in nearly 100 years.
- The Dixie National Livestock Show & Rodeo is one of the largest such events east of the Mississippi River and spans multiple weeks in February.
- Many signature cultural events such as MLK Weekend activities and the Mississippi Book Festival offer free admission.
- Jackson's event calendar reflects strong programming around literary heritage (Eudora Welty, Mississippi authors), blues and music history, and agricultural traditions.
- Juneteenth celebrations are city-wide rather than concentrated in a single venue, allowing visitors to explore multiple neighborhoods and cultural demonstrations.
- The Farish Street Historic District is central to many Jackson cultural events, particularly those celebrating African American heritage and the blues tradition.
Events
MLK Weekend at the Two Mississippi Museums
- Month
- January
- Admission
- $0.00
- Significance
- Civil Rights commemoration
- Description
- Free admission to the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with exhibits and programming highlighting the Civil Rights Movement and Dr. King's legacy.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration & Parade
- Month
- January
- Significance
- Civil Rights commemoration
- Description
- A slate of activities culminating in a parade honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., featuring gospel singing, a talent show, and live entertainment.
Paddy's Parade & Festival
- Month
- March
- Significance
- Cultural heritage
- Description
- A 41-year tradition bringing the community together to honor Jackson's rich heritage, combining spring celebration with parade traditions.
Dixie National Parade
- Month
- February
- Admission
- $0.00
- Date 2026
- Saturday, February 14, 2026, 10:30 a.m.
- Significance
- Agricultural heritage and Western traditions
- Description
- A time-honored parade through downtown Jackson featuring floats, marching bands, rodeo queens, and the famous Dixie National Wagon Train, kicking off the Dixie National Livestock Show & Rodeo.
Dixie National Livestock Show & Rodeo
- Month
- February
- Admission
- $15
- Date 2026
- February 13-15 and 18-21, 2026
- Significance
- Agricultural heritage and rodeo traditions
- Admission Details
- Adults $15, children 12 and under $5, children 5 and under free (for Ag Expo)
- Description
- One of the largest livestock shows and rodeos east of the Mississippi, featuring horse shows, livestock competitions, a Western Festival, trade shows, the Mississippi Ag and Outdoor Expo, and professional rodeo competitions over multiple weeks.
Mississippi Gem, Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Show
- Month
- February
- Significance
- Educational and hobby interest
- Description
- Held in late February, featuring dealers from across the country, educational exhibits, and displays celebrating earth sciences with rocks, minerals, fossils, jewelry making, and lapidary arts.
Chimneyville Arts Festival
- Month
- March
- Significance
- Local arts and crafts
- Description
- A three-day event featuring handmade works by more than 100 members of the Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi.
Juneteenth Celebration
- Month
- June
- Significance
- African American heritage
- Description
- Citywide celebrations honoring the legacy of Black history and Black excellence in Jackson, with music, food, demonstrations of African culture, and more.
Mississippi Blues Marathon
- Month
- January
- Significance
- Blues heritage and athletic tradition
- Description
- A marathon, half marathon, quarter marathon, 5K, or marathon relay with live music along the course through downtown Jackson, showcasing Mississippi's blues heritage.
Mississippi Book Festival
- Month
- September
- Admission
- $0.00
- Significance
- Literary heritage
- Description
- Held on the historic grounds of the Mississippi State Capitol and surrounding streets, this literary lawn party features hundreds of visiting authors, panel discussions, book signings, booksellers, Capitol tours, food trucks, and children's activities.
Welty Birthday Celebration
- Month
- April
- Significance
- Literary heritage
- Description
- An annual celebration of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eudora Welty, featuring a weekend of tours, lectures, and birthday cake.
NatureFest!
- Month
- Variable
- Significance
- Environmental education
- Description
- Featuring live animals, demonstrations, and hands-on activities at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, engaging nature enthusiasts of all ages with educational exhibits.
Mississippi Comic Con
- Month
- Variable
- Significance
- Pop culture and fandom
- Description
- A two-day event bringing together diverse guests, vendors, artists, and fan groups in an affordable, family-friendly environment, featuring guests from movies, television, anime, video games, cartoons, wrestling, and comics.
Community Kwanzaa Celebration
- Month
- December
- Significance
- African American cultural tradition
- Description
- The official event of the City of Jackson honoring the African American holiday of Kwanzaa.
National Folk Festival
- Month
- November
- Admission
- $0.00
- Date 2026
- November 7-9, 2025; November 12-14, 2026
- Significance
- American cultural traditions and civil rights legacy
- Description
- An 83rd annual celebration (3-year residency in Jackson through 2026) of the artistic traditions of all Americans through music, dance, craft, storytelling, and food, with the 2025 theme 'Legacies of Empowerment' honoring B.B. King and Medgar Evers.
Taste of Mississippi
- Month
- Variable
- Significance
- Culinary heritage and local business support
- Description
- A culinary event showcasing Mississippi's restaurants, accompanied by live music and silent auctions, supporting local businesses and entertainment.
City of Jackson Holiday Parade
- Month
- December
- Admission
- $0.00
- Significance
- Holiday celebration
- Description
- Held annually in downtown Jackson streets with families from the Jackson metro enjoying holiday festivities.
Capital City Lights
- Month
- November
- Significance
- Holiday celebration
- Description
- The holiday spectacular that kicks off the Christmas season in Jackson.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this signature annual events research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Jackson
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.