National Folk Festival

The National Folk Festival, a production of the National Council for the Traditional Arts, is held in downtown Jackson during the city's three-year run as host. The weekend celebrates artistic traditions of Americans through music, dance, craft, storytelling, and food, with over 300 traditional performers and craftspeople and up to seven stages of continuous music and dance. Styles on the bill include blues, bluegrass, gospel, Cajun, zydeco, and many others, plus Mississippi folklife demonstrations, a marketplace, family activities, and parades. Regional foods round out the grounds.

Our take: With up to seven stages running all weekend, start at the family area and Mississippi folklife exhibits if you are bringing kids, then wander the music.