Mississippi Makers Festival returns to Jackson for 3rd year
Grammy-winning Mississippi blues musician Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, 24, of Clarksdale will headline Saturday’s third-annual Mississippi Makers Festival at the Two Mississippi Museums in downtown Jackson.
Other performers for the day at the free event from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, on the Museums’ grounds, include Hud and The Hurricane and American Blonde.
“The free event will kick off the 2024 summer season with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s third-annual Mississippi Makers Fest,” according to a press release.
The event is an annual celebration of Mississippi’s creativity and this year will feature more than 40 vendors, food trucks, and attendees can browse handcrafted pottery, paintings, charcuterie boards, jewelry and more from local vendors. For the children, Mini Makers will give them a chance to make-and-take crafts and enjoy activities, including face painting.
“We are really excited to have ‘Kingfish’ headlining and playing some good blues music this year,” said Tori Rice, director of amenities for the Two Mississippi Museums, in an interview with the Clarion Ledger.
Kingfish has already headlined multiple U.S. and European tours as well as tours in Australia, New Zealand and India. He was selected in summer 2022 to open for The Rolling Stones in London’s Hyde Park, and he has also performed and toured with friends, including Vampire Weekend, Jason Isbell, Steve Miller and Buddy Guy, according to the press release.
“This year we are bringing out more arts and crafts, great food trucks and more,” Rice said. “Our focus is to shine a light on our Mississippi talent, so all of our makers, whether it’s food, art or a musician, are all from our state.”
Festival goers can expect exhibitors showing the public how to do woodwork and make paintings onsite with a variety of vendors, including painters, pottery makers, candle makers and more offering something for everyone, organizers said.
“Nissan is a proud supporter of Mississippi Makers Fest, bringing friends and neighbors together to celebrate the immense creativity of the Magnolia state,”
IF YOU GO
● When: Saturday, May 11
● Where: Two Mississippi Museums, 222 North St., Jackson
Free
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
● visit msmakersfest.mdah.ms.gov or call 601-576-6800.
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● said Chandra Vassar, chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion officer for Nissan Americas and president of the Nissan Foundation. “Supporting artists and creators helps foster community, bolster innovation and encourage empathy, creating a world where everyone feels they belong. In collaboration with a partner that shares our values of courage, equity and inclusivity like the Two Mississippi Museums, we’re honored to give back to Mississippians who have given us so much over the 20 years we’ve been manufacturing in the state.”
Attendees can enjoy free live music on the lawn the entire day.
All Mississippi-based artists’ and makers’ creations will be on display the entire day for the public to purchase.
Know an event coming up or have a good story idea? Reporter Kiara Fleming can be reached via email KDFleming@jackson.gannett.com and on X @Ki_dajournalist