Exciting adventures await year-round in the Mississippi Hills with an array of cultural and heritage events to fill your schedule! Plan your trip around these rocking concerts, literary and art festivals, historic home tours and more. This is just a sampling of the thrilling times found in the Mississippi Hills.

Check out our Partner websites for more events. Please call or check the websites to confirm dates of all events, as scheduling may change.



Columbus

Eudora Welty Writer's Symposiym

muw.edu/welty

Time of Year / Month: Fall (October / November)

The W celebrates their most notable alumna Eudora Welty each fall. Writers from all across the South gather at Mississippi University for Women to read and discuss their work.

Columbus Spring Pilgrimage

visitcolumbusms.org/calendar-of-events/spring-pilgrimage/

Time of Year / Month: Fall (October / November)

The annual Columbus Spring Pilgrimage is celebrating 80 years of exemplary historic home tours and unparalleled hospitality. The award-winning event has been widely recognized as one of the best and most authentic home tours in the South. In addition to more than 650 National Register properties and three National Register Historic Districts, the annual Spring Pilgrimage embraces and celebrates all of Columbus’ history as it serves up a feast of irresistible cultural flavors.

Desoto County

Tri-State Blues Festival (Southaven)

visitdesotocounty.com

Time of Year / Month: Summer (August)

This exciting and entertaining annual event brings together some of the greatest blues musicians.

Front Porch Jubilee (Hernando)

frontporchjubilee.ms

Time of Year / Month: Fall (October)

This annual event features an evening of blues, great food and art on display.

Holly Springs

Historic Homes Tour

visithollysprings.com

Time of Year / Month: Spring

Now in its 82nd year, the annual tour of historic homes takes place each spring and features home tours of Montrose and Walter Place. 

North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic

nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Time of Year / Month: Summer

Celebrating hill country blues!

Hummingbird Migration & Nature Celebration

visithollysprings.com

Time of Year / Month: Fall (September)

One of the Southeast’s biggest nature festivals takes place on the ground of Strawberry Plains. Highlights include renowned guest speakers, guided nature walks, live animal shows and up-close views of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds being banded and released.

Iuka / Tishomingo

Iuka Renaissance Day

tishomingofunhere.org

Time of Year / Month: Spring (April)

Enjoy a variety of games, pioneer demonstrations, antique cars, dulcimer music, country line dancers and gospel singing.

Iuka Heritage Festival

iukafestival.com

Time of Year / Month: Spring (April)

Celebrate Labor Day weekend with fun, food, entertainment, arts & craft vendors and antique car/tractor show.

New Albany

William Faulkner Literary Fest

williamfaulknerliterarycompetition.com

Time of Year / Month: Summer / Fall (July – September)

Enjoy Faulkner Fest in his birthplace, New Albany. Includes a lecture series, awards banquet, and the opening of the Faulkner and Folk Art Exhibit.

Heritage Pioneer Days

ucheritagemuseum.com

Time of Year / Month: Fall (October)

Living history lets the young and old enjoy hands-on-activities from days gone by with music, games, storytelling and sassafras tea.

Oxford

Double Decker Arts Festival

doubledeckerfestival.com

Time of Year / Month: Spring (April)

The Double Decker Music and Arts Festival is a two-day celebration of food, music and the arts. The annual event features local and regional bands, and showcases over 200 art and food vendors.

Oxford Conference for the Book

oxfordconferenceforthebook.com

Time of Year / Month: Spring (April)

Oxford Conference for the Book is an annual celebration of literature and culture with guest speakers and lecturers.

Starkville

Cotton District Arts Festival

starkville.org

Time of Year / Month: Spring (April)

The Cotton District Arts Festival is Starkville’s premier spring festival held each spring with the best food, music and art vendors.

Tupelo

Tupelo Elvis Festival

tupeloelvisfestival.com

Time of Year / Month: Summer (June)

Join the town of Tupelo in a celebration designed to honor Elvis Presley, Tupelo’s native son, and the impact of his music on the world.

Gumtree Arts Festival

gumtreefestival.com

Time of Year / Month: Summer (May)

This annual event features some of the region’s most decorated artists from paintings and ceramics to mixed media and pop art. The two-day celebration also celebrates music, food, crafts and visual arts.