America250 Mississippi – Mississippi250
2026-06-28 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-04 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | The Grove Stage, University of Mississippi, 49 University Ave, University, MS, 38677, United States
The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council will expand its annual June Summer Sunset Concert Series with a special July 4th celebration in Oxford in 2026. The project blends live concerts highlighting Mississippi’s musical traditions with historian-curated readings and writing prompts on democracy, plus short documentary films exploring how Mississippi’s culture shapes the arts. Designed as a free, multimedia program, it aims to celebrate the state’s musical and democratic heritage, foster community reflection, and engage diverse audiences across generations.
The series will highlight a different element of Mississippi’s musical legacy each week—blues, gospel, country, rock and roll, and other traditions—while pairing each concert with a community writing prompt curated from historical writings on democracy. A historian will be engaged to compile a list of significant texts and excerpts related to democracy in America, with particular emphasis on Mississippi’s history and culture. This curated collection will then be adapted into age-appropriate reading lists and reflection questions, ensuring accessibility for both students and adults.
Dates:

Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 6-8 p.m.
Sunday, June 14, 2026, from 6-8 p.m.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, from 6-8 p.m.
Sunday, June 28, 2026, from 6-8 p.m.
Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 6-8 p.m.

America250 Mississippi - Star Spangled Celebration on the River
2026-07-02 18:00 - 22:00 | Chain Park in Hattiesburg, 5619 Hwy 42, Hattiesburg, MS, 39401, United States
This year’s Star Spangled Celebration on the River is going to be bigger, more meaningful, and more patriotic than ever as we celebrate America’s 250th! We are excited to officially launch this year’s celebration at Petal River Park and Chain Park alongside our incredible partners. This year also introduces our new Red, White, Blue and a Healthy You campaign in partnership with Forrest Health! A campaign focused on honoring veterans, promoting preventative health, encouraging activity, and bringing our community together in a special way. Get ready for an unforgettable night filled with live music, family fun, patriotic moments, an AMAZING FIREWORK SHOW, and a celebration our community will never forget. Made possible in part through grants from the Mississippi Humanities Council and America250MS.

Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Meridian
2026-07-04 - 2026-08-15 | Soule’ Steam Works, 1808 4th Street, Meridian , MS
Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Meridian

Join MHC in Meridian for the Spark! Places of Innovation tour of Mississippi!
July 4-August15, 2026
Soule Steam Museum
601-693-9905 | industrialheritagemuseum.com
Exhibit hours:
Across 2026-2027, the Mississippi Humanities Council presents Spark! Places of Innovation, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring Utica, Meridian, Greenville, Oxford, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport. Special thanks to our statewide sponsor, Cadence Bank, for making this possible!
ABOUT SPARK!:
The story of human history is written in inventions and innovations. Across our nation. And right here in Mississippi. Join us in 2026-2027 to catch a new Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring the state…and spark some new ideas of your own.
Spark! uses photographs, digital stories, objects, and interactive elements to explore the places, people, and circumstances that ignite innovation and invention in rural communities across our nation. The exhibit also offers a springboard for diverse local programming, spotlighting the stories, ideas, and innovations of Mississippians — and a call to contribute to the future of the towns we call home.

America250 Mississippi - July 4th Celebration with Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band
2026-07-04 11:00 - 13:00 | The MAX, 2118 Front St, Meridian, MS, 39301, United States
Celebrate America’s 250th at The MAX with a free performance by Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band.

Led by “Fife Master” Shardé Thomas, granddaughter of the legendary Othar Turner, and percussionist Chris Mallory, their performance will honor freedom in all its forms: our nation’s independence, the emancipation of a people, and the creative spirit that defines Mississippi’s global artistic impact.
Come early and shop fresh produce at Earth’s Bounty, plus enjoy free admission to The MAX (special hours: 9 am-3 pm).
Stop by the Alexander Family Church Gallery to view an episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood featuring Othar Turner, Jessie Mae Hemphill, and Abe Young, legends of Mississippi Hill Country fife and drum music, on loop through August 1 (courtesy of Fred Rogers Productions).

America250 Mississippi - 100th Birthday of the Lawrence County Civic Center Building
2026-07-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Lawrence County Civic Center, 125 East Broad Street, Monticello, MS, 39654, United States
We are planning a party!
Thank you to the Mississippi250 Grant Committee with the Mississippi Humanities Council for our matching grant to provide an America250 Birthday Party for you at your Lawrence County Civic Center! It is an exciting time for our country and for us!Our building will be celebrating its 100th Birthday, so we will have a double celebration!
Tuesday, July 7 at 6 pm we will have a short program highlighting our history and then birthday cake and socializing!
Celebrate our Country and our building with us! More details coming soon! RSVP will be encouraged.

Speakers Bureau: “Pioneer Toys, Games, and Music”
2026-07-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Smithville Baptist Church, 63388 Highway 25 N, Smithville, MS, 38870, United States
William Arinder presents “Pioneer Toys, Games, and Music” on July 9, 2026, at 10 a.m.
A living history program about the early pioneer settlers in Mississippi. Discussion centers around how they dressed, built their homes, produced and cooked their food, created children’s homemade toys, and made music on the mountain dulcimer. Period clothing worn, hands-on artifacts display and audience participation encouraged.

America250 Mississippi - America250 Lunch Lecture Series - Mound Bayou Museum & African American History & Culture
2026-07-10 12:00 - 14:00 | Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum, 1150 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, MS, 39216, United States
This is the third in the series of luncheon lectures coming to the MS Ag & Forestry Museum. The highlight of this lecture will be Mound Bayou Museum & African American History & Culture. In the Heritage Center Auditorium, July 10th from Noon – 1PM.
Rev. Darryl Johnson & Hermon Johnson, present a program about the Mound Bayou Museum of African American Culture and History, located in Bolivar County, MS, preserves the legacy of one of America’s first independent, all-Black towns founded in 1887 by former slaves.
This official America250 project was made possible by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council, through support from the State of Mississippi.

America250 Mississippi - Voices of Mid-Mississippi: A Community Time Capsule
2026-07-12 12:00 - 13:00 | The Mid-Mississippi Regional Library System, 201 S Huntington St, Kosciusko, MS, 39090, United States
Be Part of History! Help Us Fill a Time Capsule! Our library is starting a fun new project called “Voices of Mid-Mississippi: A Community Time Capsule!” We want to save our thoughts and memories from today for people to open in the future—50 years from now, during the America 300 birthday celebration!
What is a Time Capsule? It is a special container that we will fill with notes and small items from people all across our 5-county area. We are putting the capsule at the Mid-Mississippi Regional Library HQ in Kosciusko, MS.
What will we put inside? We want to collect your handwritten notes! We will ask you questions like: “What does America mean to you in the context of our local history?” or “How has the library shaped your pursuit of knowledge and community connection?” We will also add things like library bookmarks, photos of our towns, and a special message from our local leaders.
Why is This Important? Your stories show how our area’s history, from our towns to places like the library, makes our community special. The library is a place where people of all ages meet, and your stories are part of Mississippi’s bigger story!
How Can You Join In? We will kick off this exciting event on April 20, 2026, during National Library Week! From National Library Week until June 30, 2026, we will be collecting your notes and items. Everyone in our 5 counties can participate! Our mobile library will even visit nursing homes and other places to make sure everyone can share their voices.
After we gather everything, we will have a special ceremony Thursday, July 2, 2026, to commemorate the closing of the time capsule. Stay tuned to midmisslib.com/america250 for further details. Come share your voice and help us celebrate our history and the library’s role in our community! This official America250 project was made possible by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council, through support from the State of Mississippi.

Speakers Bureau: “The Challenges of the First Fifty Years of Women’s Suffrage”
2026-07-15 12:00 - 14:00 | Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, 314 7th St N, Columbus, MS, 39701, United States
Dr. Rebecca Tuuri’s presentation examines the first fifty years of the women’s suffrage in Mississippi, with a focus on the work of the Mississippi League of Women Voters (LWV) from the months before the ratification of the Susan B. Anthony Amendment through the late 1960s when the state’s League was transformed into the progressive and interracial group that it is today. Nationally, the LWV was the organization that suffrage leader Carrie Chapman Catt founded in 1920 to replace the National American Woman Suffrage Association and to help educate the newly enfranchised woman voters in America. Therefore, the LWV in Mississippi was arguably the most important women’s voting organization in the state. This talk illuminates the successes and challenges of Mississippi women’s early efforts to empower voting women around the state.

America250 Mississippi - Happy Birthday, America!
2026-07-17 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-18 14:30 - 16:30, 2026-07-18 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-19 14:30 - 16:30 | Main Street United Methodist Church, 162 Main St,, Bay St Louis, MS, 39520, United States
Happy Birthday, America is an original musical celebrating the 250th birthday of America, and Mississippi’s part in forming our country. Performed by a cast of kids and adults of all ages, audiences will be delighted at this sometimes funny, sometimes not, presentation.
Told through story and music, we guarantee you’ll be tapping your feet and singing along. It’s a true celebration of the red, white, and blue!
July 17 & 18 @ 7:00 p.m. and July 18 & 19 @ 2:30 p.m.
Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.
This Official America250 Project was made possible by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council, through support from the State of Mississippi.
Free parking available in the church lot on 2nd Street. Handicapped parking is also available on 2nd Street.

America250 Mississippi - Mississippi Women in Blues: Celebrating America 250
2026-07-19 15:00 - 17:00 | F.D. Hall Music Center – Jackson State University Campus, 1400 John R. Lynch St, Jackson, MS, 39217, United States
This production of Central MS Blues Society, Inc. will bring three blues artists, all Mississippi women who are known to blues lovers worldwide, will share their music and stories of their struggles and successes as African American blues women in America. The music will be accompanied by a Jackson area blues band. Free and open to the public! Parking across the street from F. D. Hall Music Center on the JSU Campus

Speakers Bureau: "All Things Mississippi: The Beautiful Landscapes and the Great Strength of the People"
2026-08-18 18:30 - 20:30 | Anguilla Methodist Church, 631 Front St, Anguilla, MS, 38721, United States
Anne McKee presents “All Things Mississippi: The Beautiful Landscapes and the Great Strength of the People”
Anne McKee is recognized statewide as a passionate teacher of Mississippi history. Through the art of storytelling, Anne McKee uplifts the accomplishments of famous Mississippians and shares explores the history of a land and a people like no other. Native to the state, McKee’s love and support for Mississippi began in childhood as she sat at the knees of relatives to learn the Mississippi story—a story for her that is always new and fresh. She dresses in costumes representing the time period of the stories featured on the day of her programs, and at times, if the audience is willing, involves attendees in her stories.

Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Greenville
2026-08-22 - 2026-10-03 | Greenville Higher Education Center, 2900 US-1 South, Greenville, MS, 38701
Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Greenville

Join MHC in Greenville for the Spark! Places of Innovation tour of Mississippi!
August 22-October 3, 2026
Greenville Higher Education Center at Mississippi Delta Community College Greenville Campus
662-332-8500 | msdelta.edu/ghec/
Exhibit hours:
Across 2026-2027, the Mississippi Humanities Council presents Spark! Places of Innovation, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring Utica, Meridian, Greenville, Oxford, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport. Special thanks to our statewide sponsor, Cadence Bank, for making this possible!
ABOUT SPARK!:
The story of human history is written in inventions and innovations. Across our nation. And right here in Mississippi. Join us in 2026-2027 to catch a new Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring the state…and spark some new ideas of your own.
Spark! uses photographs, digital stories, objects, and interactive elements to explore the places, people, and circumstances that ignite innovation and invention in rural communities across our nation. The exhibit also offers a springboard for diverse local programming, spotlighting the stories, ideas, and innovations of Mississippians — and a call to contribute to the future of the towns we call home.

America250 Mississippi - America250 Lunch Lecture Series - How We Pickled Our Food: 1850 - 1920
2026-09-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum, 1150 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, MS, 39216, United States
This is the last of the series of luncheon lectures coming to the MS Ag & Forestry Museum. The highlight of this lecture will be How We Pickled Our Food: 1850 – 1920. In the Heritage Center Auditorium, September 11th from Noon – 1PM.

Join Research Historian Casey Heilman, for an opportunity to sample some of the popular flavors of the past. For over 7 years she served as the Living History Coordinator for a small 1847 first person historical site in Findlay, Ohio. She has given presentations for ALFAM, MCWCC, and other institutions.

This official America250 project was made possible by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council, through support from the State of Mississippi.

Speakers Bureau: “Ain’t That America? History and Culture in the Country"
2026-09-15 18:30 - 20:30 | Anguilla Methodist Church, 631 Front St, Anguilla, MS, 38721, United States
James “Jim” Giesen presents “Ain’t That America? History and Culture in the Country”
Since 1920 the number of farmers in America has been dropping, yet the place of farming — and of rural life generally — in the American mind is stronger than ever. The images we encounter in country songs, labels at the grocery store and in country-fried restaurants tell us that to live the rural life is to live the most American of lives: to work honestly, for long hours and for mostly internal rewards. Our culture presents farmers as nothing short of heroes. But this was not always the case. This talk charts the rise, fall and rise again of the American farmer and rural life in the American consciousness with images from music videos, snippets of song lyrics, Cracker Barrel billboards and even some Congressional testimony. It seeks to answer the questions, why does this particular image of the farmer hold such sway, and what do the changes in that image over time tell us about Americans’ insecure relationship with its history?

America250 Mississippi - The Town Creek Celebration & Archaeology Exposition Festival
2026-10-03 | Dorothy J. Lowe Memorial Library / Nettleton, 165 Young Avenue, Nettleton, MS, 38858, United States
The Town Creek Celebration & Archaeology Exposition is a one-day, multi-generational cultural heritage event hosted in Nettleton, Mississippi. Designed to honor the region’s Indigenous, civic, and civil rights history, the event will take place at Lowe Library and surrounding venues. Through interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, oral history recordings, and educational panels, the project will foster community pride, historical awareness, and inclusive learning.
Activities will include Indigenous dance and music performances, flint knapping demonstrations, genealogy workshops, and civil rights panels featuring renowned historians and advocates. Attendees will also contribute to a large-scale place-name mapping exhibit, highlighting the Chickasaw and Choctaw linguistic heritage embedded in Mississippi’s geography. All oral histories and genealogy resources will be archived at Lowe Library, ensuring long-term educational access and cultural preservation.
The event is expected to engage over 500 participants, including youth, elders, educators, tribal members, and civic leaders. Its inclusive design ensures that every attendee, regardless of age, background, or experience, can participate meaningfully in the celebration and contribute to the preservation of local history.

The Town Creek Celebration & Archaeology Exposition is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2026, as a full-day public event hosted at Lowe Library and surrounding venues in Nettleton, Mississippi. Programming will begin at 9:00 AM and continue until 8:30 PM, culminating in a patriotic fireworks finale.
Planned Activities Include:

9:00 AM – Opening Ceremony: Welcome remarks and overview of the day’s events
9:30 AM – Indigenous Place-Name Mapping Exhibit Opens: Interactive map of Mississippi with magnetic markers for Chickasaw and Choctaw town names
10:00 AM – Oral History Recording Station Opens: Video interviews with older citizens begin; historic audio archive available for listening
10:30 AM – Flint Knapping Demonstration & Artifact Showcase: Live tool-making demo and relic identification station
11:30 AM – Chickasaw Dance & Music Performance: Traditional regalia and live music presentation
1:00 PM – Indigenous-Inspired Art Workshops Begin: Hands-on sessions led by certified art educators
2:30 PM – Genealogy Panel & Family Tree Distribution: Expert guidance and free four-generation family tree charts
4:00 PM – Civil Rights & Historical Perspectives Panel: Featuring Kenneth Mayfield, Al Arnold, Mitch Caver, and Brad Deramus
6:00 PM – Natchez Trace Interpretation: Presentation by National Park Service ranger
7:30 PM – Patriotic Finale: Live performance of The Star-Spangled Banner followed by a choreographed fireworks display

Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Oxford
2026-10-10 - 2026-11-21 | Oxford Lafayette Library, 401 Bramlett Blvd , Oxford, MS, 38655, United States
Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Oxford

Join MHC in Oxford for the Spark! Places of Innovation tour of Mississippi!
October 10-November 21, 2026
Lafayette County and Oxford Public Library
662-234-5751 | lafayettems.com/places/lafayette-county-oxford-public-library/
Exhibit hours:
Across 2026-2027, the Mississippi Humanities Council presents Spark! Places of Innovation, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring Utica, Meridian, Greenville, Oxford, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport. Special thanks to our statewide sponsor, Cadence Bank, for making this possible!
ABOUT SPARK!:
The story of human history is written in inventions and innovations. Across our nation. And right here in Mississippi. Join us in 2026-2027 to catch a new Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring the state…and spark some new ideas of your own.
Spark! uses photographs, digital stories, objects, and interactive elements to explore the places, people, and circumstances that ignite innovation and invention in rural communities across our nation. The exhibit also offers a springboard for diverse local programming, spotlighting the stories, ideas, and innovations of Mississippians — and a call to contribute to the future of the towns we call home.

Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Hattiesburg
2026-11-28 - 2027-01-09 | Eureka School, 412 East 6th Street, Hattiesburg, MS, 39401, United States
Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Hattiesburg

Join MHC in Hattiesburg for the Spark! Places of Innovation tour of Mississippi!
November 28, 2026-January 9,2027
The Historic Eureka School with the 6th Street Museum District
601-268-3220 | hattiesburgeureka.com
Exhibit hours:
Across 2026-2027, the Mississippi Humanities Council presents Spark! Places of Innovation, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring Utica, Meridian, Greenville, Oxford, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport. Special thanks to our statewide sponsor, Cadence Bank, for making this possible!
ABOUT SPARK!:
The story of human history is written in inventions and innovations. Across our nation. And right here in Mississippi. Join us in 2026-2027 to catch a new Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring the state…and spark some new ideas of your own.
Spark! uses photographs, digital stories, objects, and interactive elements to explore the places, people, and circumstances that ignite innovation and invention in rural communities across our nation. The exhibit also offers a springboard for diverse local programming, spotlighting the stories, ideas, and innovations of Mississippians — and a call to contribute to the future of the towns we call home.

Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Gulfport
2027-01-16 - 2027-02-27 | Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, 246 Dolan Avenue, Gulfport, MS, 39507, United States
Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Gulfport

Join MHC in Gulfport for the Spark! Places of Innovation tour of Mississippi!
January 16, 2027-February 27, 2027
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
228-897-6039 | lmdc.org
Exhibit hours:
Across 2026-2027, the Mississippi Humanities Council presents Spark! Places of Innovation, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring Utica, Meridian, Greenville, Oxford, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport. Special thanks to our statewide sponsor, Cadence Bank, for making this possible!
ABOUT SPARK!:
The story of human history is written in inventions and innovations. Across our nation. And right here in Mississippi. Join us in 2026-2027 to catch a new Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring the state…and spark some new ideas of your own.
Spark! uses photographs, digital stories, objects, and interactive elements to explore the places, people, and circumstances that ignite innovation and invention in rural communities across our nation. The exhibit also offers a springboard for diverse local programming, spotlighting the stories, ideas, and innovations of Mississippians — and a call to contribute to the future of the towns we call home.
