The Most Unique Events in the Mississippi Delta

If you're looking for some of the best events in the Mississippi Delta, read on to learn more about these family-friendly events, concerts, and live music!

International Rice Festival in Merigold, Mississippi

Rice is one of the most consumed foods on the planet and it’s one of the most produced items in Bolivar County, where there are thousand acre rice fields that literally make up the horizon in this part of the Delta. So it makes sense that the folks in Bolivar County would have a festival dedicated to this popular and versatile grain. This free festival is located just north of Cleveland, Mississippi in the “downtown” of the cute Delta village of Merigold and features music, RC Cola, and free tastings of various rice recipes and varieties.

Delta Tamale Festival

During the “King Cotton” Days, the Mississippi Delta was one of the most cosmopolitan places in the American South with immigrants from various ethnicities coming to the area to find work and find their fortunes. One of these groups were the Mexicans, who brought their tamale making skills with them and taught them to the locals who appreciated the food for its cheapness, flavor, and portability. Over the years, the Mexican tamale evolved into a Delta tamale with its own distinct flavor and ingredients. A festival dedicated to this humble, yet delectable food is celebrated just one hour south of Cleveland in the Delta town of Greenville each year.

Otherfest and Anotherfest

In a wry commentary on the number of “small town festivals” permeating the Delta region, Cleveland, Mississippi’s arts organization, “Keep Cleveland Boring” decided to create Otherfest and Anotherfest, two festivals that feature alternative music, craft beer, and a delightful no-worry attitude. These family-friendly outdoor festivals are very popular with Cleveland’s population of young families and university students.

Clarksdale Film Festival

While Clarksdale is rightfully known for its famous Juke Joint Festival, the city also has a film festival each year that features indie films from around the world and offers a number of films about blues music and Delta culture. A short, thirty minute drive from Cleveland, the festival not only has the movies (all shown in an historic, run down theater), but all the parties, and networking opportunities that generally come with a solid film festival.

Belzoni Catfish Festival

If you’re the “catfish capital of the world”, you’ve got to have a catfish festival! And that’s what happens in the small Delta town of Belzoni each April. The festival features arts and crafts, a 5k run, a “Miss Catfish” Pageant, and, of course, all the catfish you can eat! The festival is about one hour south of Cleveland, on the other side of Indianola. So, a trip to the festival and Indianola (which is famous for pecans) can knock out two foodie bucket-list “must-eats'' in one trip!