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 - Pontotoc's Fourth of July Celebration
2026-07-04 09:30 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | Pontotoc Chamber of Commerce, 109 N Main St, Pontotoc, MS, 38863, United States
PONTOTOC’S FOURTH OF JULY BIRTHDAY BASH
Help us celebrate America’s 250th birthday!
This is the list of events for the 2026 4th of July holiday!
Mark your calendars and plan to attend this amazing event!

America250 Mississippi - Lena Hometown 4th of July
2026-07-04 10:00 - 21:30 | Lena City Hall, 1007 Grand Ave, Lena, MS, 39094, United States
Join us Saturday, July 4th for the Lena 4th of July! Beginning at 11:00 on July 4th with a Classic Car show featuring the Carthage Cruisers along with cars from other groups across Mississippi. They will be cruising into the center of town and setting up for display. The fire department will open with activities for the kids and snow cones! Craft vendors will be set up in town along with several other activities during the day. 13 South Productions will have a movie preview of their film “The Last American House Party” showing in their vintage building in the center of town along with a Blue’s guitarists playing live. This is the film that will be shown at the America 250 Celebration in Washington D.C. to represent the State of Mississippi. Ellis Farmer’s Market and C’s BBQ will be open for lunch with pulled pork, ribs and smoked chicken. JukeBox Junction will also be open with live music and great foods! At 3:00, opening ceremonies begin on the Main Stage at Fireworks Field with live music all afternoon. The Main Stage program includes Bluegrass with the Parkers, Southern Gospel with Matt Hill, and a magic show for the kids featuring Dorien LaChance along with a watermelon eating contest for all ages! We will be giving away $200 to the best dressed patriotic kid for kids 12 years and under sponsored by The Carthaginian! At 7:00 we will have a Veteran’s Program featuring selections from “For God and Country” with Pine Grove Pentecostal Church followed by Cornerstone Worship. Fireworks will begin at 9:00pm with Pelahatchie Pyros. Food Trucks will also be available at the Main Stage all afternoon with Point Blank Grilling, Gator’s Snow Cones, Ma’ and Pa’s Kettle Korn & Lemonade, and T & T’s Concessions. Please no coolers and no alcohol!

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 - Meridian's 250th Anniversary Celebration of America
2026-07-04 15:00 - 22:00 | Meridian Town Hall, 601 23rd Avenue, Meridian, MS, 39301, United States
Meridian, Mississippi, is preparing for a full day of celebration as we mark America’s 250th birthday on Saturday, July 4.
The day will include live entertainment, the America 250 Parade, a community ceremony, family activities, and a fireworks spectacular to close out the evening.

For parade information, call 601-485-1998.
The City of Meridian, Mississippi’s Community Development Team extends sincere appreciation to our Celebration Partners whose support, collaboration and commitment are helping make this historic community celebration possible. Special thanks to Visit Meridian, Mississippi Power, Mitchell Distributing, Magnolia Beverage Company, Mississippi Humanities, and 1st Mississippi Federal Credit Union for partnering with us as we celebrate 250 years of American independence.
Together, these partners are helping create a day of community, patriotism, music, family fun and celebration for Meridian and East Mississippi.
“Join us in Downtown Meridian as we celebrate America’s past, honor its present and look forward to its future.”
Community Development Director Terrell Thompson

America250 Mississippi - Celebrating America 250 and Taylorsville's 125th Anniversary
2026-07-04 17:00 - 21:00 | Taylorsville Train Depot, Hydell St, Taylorsville, MS, 39168, United States
BIG NEWS- 4th of July Weekend CelebrationThe Taylorsville Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce our AMERICA 250 – 4th of July Weekend Celebration as we celebrate not only America’s 250th birthday… but also Taylorsville’s 125th Anniversary. This is going to be more than fireworks and festivities.This weekend is about history, hometown pride, community, music, memories, and celebrating the place we call home. TWO DAYS OF CELEBRATION LIVE MUSIC HISTORICAL DISPLAYS KIDS BIKE PARADE FOOD TRUCKS BEER TENT FIREWORKS SHOW…and so much more. FRIDAY, JULY 3RDTrain Depot | 12PM–5PMFeaturing local history, museum exhibits, walking tours, and live local music on the depot dock. SATURDAY, JULY 4THTown Park | 5PM–9PMLive music by The Band U.S., food, games, family fun, and fireworks to close out the night.We’ve been working behind the scenes for months to bring something truly special to Taylorsville — and we cannot wait to celebrate with all of you.Mark your calendars. Invite your people.This summer… Taylorsville is celebrating BIG.
**This official America250 project was made possible by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council, through support from the State of Mississippi.

America250 Mississippi - Red, White & Biloxi: An America250 Celebration!
2026-07-04 17:00 - 21:30 | Biloxi Town Green, 710 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, MS, 39531, United States
Red, White, and Biloxi: An America250 Celebration, July 4, 5-9:30 p.m. Biloxi Town Green 710 Beach Blvd. Family-friendly celebration honoring the nation’s heritage with music, history, entertainment, and fireworks. Patriotic music, a dramatic presentation at 7 p.m., Unfazed Show & Band at 9 p.m., vendors, food trucks, and fireworks. Free admission. Details: 228-435-6339

America250 Mississippi – Mississippi250
2026-07-04 18:00 - 20:00 | 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.

From Douglass to Duck Hill
2026-07-05 17:00 - 19:00 | St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral, 305 E. Capitol St. , Jackson, MS, 39201, United States
From Douglass to Duck Hill
An evening of remembrance, reflection, storytelling, and racial healing connecting the enduring words of Fredrick Douglass to the 1937 lynching of Roosevelt “Red” Townes and Robert “Bootjack” McDaniels in Duck Hill, MS. Virtual attendance is also available.
Sunday, July 5
5-7 p.m.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral
305 E. Capitol St.
Jackson, MS 39201

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.

Dark Corner Reunion
2026-07-11 10:00 - 18:00 | FoxFire Ranch, 1465 Old Oxford Road, Waterford, MS, 38685, United States
On July 11, 2026, Foxfire Ranch invites our kinfolk, and community to a neighborhood reunion from 10 AM to 6PM celebrating over 250 years of Black land stewardship, story, and song.
Rooted in the living traditions from our nook of the North Mississippi Hill Country— the day weaves together remembrance, planting ceremonies, community quilting, podcast listening shrines, and blues performances into a constellation of culture and connection.
🤲🏿 Come ready to share a story, plant a seed, honor the departed, and dance — because the promised land has always been within us, within each other.
🎟️ RSVPS open this Monday, 6/22.
By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

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.

Drew's Witness: The Freedom Memory Project Community Meeting
2026-07-14 14:00 - 16:00 | 167 N Main St, Drew, 167 N Main St, Drew, MS, 38737, United States
Join the Mississippi Humanities Council and your local community to continue discussions about Drew’s Freedom Memory Project.
Tuesday, July 14, at 2 p.m.167 North Main Street
The event is free and open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to participate in the conversation. Refreshments will be provided.Info: ggloria150@msn.com

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.

Jackson's Witness: The Freedom Memory Project Community Meeting
2026-07-18 11:00 - 17:00 | Smith Robertson Museum & Cultural Center, 528 Bloom St., Jackson, MS, 39202
Join the Mississippi Humanities Council and your local community to continue discussions about Jackson’s Freedom Memory Project.
Saturday, July 18, at 11 a.m.Smith Robertson Museum (528 Bloom Street)
The event is free and open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to participate in the conversation. Refreshments will be provided.
Info: knoelsweet@gmail.com

Sunday Screening: Everlasting
2026-07-19 14:00 - 16:00 | TWO MISSISSIPPI MUSEUMS, 222 NORTH STREET , JACKSON, MS, United States
Join us for a free event featuring a screening of Everlasting: Life and Legacy of Medgar Evers at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium at the Two Mississippi Museums. A 60-minute showing of this two hour documentary features interviews with Evers’s family, colleagues, and historians honoring the life, work, and impact of Medgar Evers. Everlasting offers a personal look at his legacy as a husband and father in the fight for civil rights. Following the screening, a panel conversation will feature moderator John Spann of the Mississippi Humanities Council, director Taiwo Gaynor, and Olivia Spann, supervisory park ranger at the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

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

Moss Point's Witness: The Freedom Memory Project Community Meeting
2026-07-23 12:00 - 14:00 | Ina Thompson Moss Point Library, 4119 Bellview Ave., Moss Point, MS, 39562, United States
Join the Mississippi Humanities Council and your local community to continue discussions about Moss Point’s Freedom Memory Project.
Thursday, July 23, at noonIna Thompson Library (4119 Bellview Ave)
The event is free and open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to participate in the conversation. Refreshments will be provided.
Info: jabaliincpresv@gmail.com

Speakers Bureau: "Mississippi Telling"
2026-07-30 16:00 - 18:00 | St Peter’s Episcopal Church, 113 N 9th Street, Oxford, MS, 38655, United States
Rebecca Jernigan presents “Mississippi Telling.”
Join scholar Rebecca Jernigan as she provides an overview of the storytelling Renaissance in America, with an emphasis on the oral tradition in Mississippi. The literary tradition of Mississippi owes much to the rich storytelling legacy that riddles the tales of our families and our communities, as reflected in the works of many of our best authors: Welty, Wright, Faulkner, Henley, and Williams. As part of the presentation, Dr. Jernigan performs as a storyteller, drawing on her rich repertoire of original tales and literary masterpieces, tailoring her choices to her audience, and offering material for children and adults.

Speakers Bureau: “Developing Community Spaces: Storytelling, Stewardship, and the Soul of Place”
2026-08-04 16:00 - 18:00 | Margaret Walker Alexander Library, 2525 Robinson St, Jackson, MS, 39209
Kevin Brown presents “Developing Community Spaces: Storytelling, Stewardship, and the Soul of Place”
In “Developing Community Spaces,” Kevin Brown explores how physical spaces—especially neglected lots, abandoned properties, and overlooked landmarks—can be transformed into powerful sites of memory, cultural identity, and civic healing. By honoring and acknowledging a community’s past, these forgotten sites can become reflections of historical pain and new hope.
Drawing from Kevin’s work creating Gertrude’s Garden in the historic Burglund District of McComb, Mississippi, this presentation offers insight into revitalizing historical spaces, engaging the community through oral histories, art, and public programs, and connecting with state-wide resources. “Developing Community Spaces” shares a living model of how the humanities can come alive through the land itself.

Mississippi Stories Grants Workshop
2026-08-05 10:00 - 11:30 | zoom
Join the Mississippi Humanities Council program staff on Wednesday, August 5, from 10-11:30 a.m. for a Zoom webinar exploring the new Mississippi Stories Grants. The webinar is free and open to all.
After the webinar, participants may request a one-on-one consultation regarding programs or events they are planning.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mhc-mississippi-stories-grants-workshop-tickets-1994204456211

Sunday Screening: Cole: Bridge to Justice
2026-08-16 14:00 - 16:00 | TWO MISSISSIPPI MUSEUMS, 222 NORTH STREET , JACKSON, MS, United States
Join us for a free event featuring a screening of Cole: Bridge to Justice at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 16, in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium at the Two Mississippi Museums. This 75-minute documentary traces the remarkable journey of Donald R. Cole, PhD—from his pivotal role as one of the “Ole Miss Eight,” who challenged segregation at the University of Mississippi, to his emergence as a national advocate for education, equity, and justice. Through archival footage, candid interviews, and powerful storytelling, the film follows Cole’s evolution from student activist to distinguished scholar, educator, and leader, whose work has expanded opportunities for Black students and scholars. Following the screening, a panel conversation will feature Don Cole, filmmakers Antonio Tarrell and Castel Sweet, and moderator John Spann of the Mississippi Humanities Council. For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

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.
