Mississippi Humanities Council

Read & Rise
2026-03-28 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Katrina’s Klassroom, 1952 Simpson Hwy 149, Mendenhall, 39114, United States
Read & Rise is a family literacy program that brings children and parents together through shared reading, culturally relevant books, including works by Mississippi authors, parent workshops, and creative activities. Each session features community reading circles, guided literacy activities, strategies for supporting reading at home, and free book distribution to help families build home libraries. By engaging families in storytelling and reflection, Read & Rise promotes both literacy skills and a deeper understanding of human experiences and community values.

America250 Mississippi - Fashioning a Revolution: How Americans Bought, Fought, and Taught Their New Nation
2026-03-31 17:30 - 18:30 | Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, 314 7th St N, Columbus, MS, 39701, United States
Fashioning a Revolution: How Americans Bought, Fought, and Taught Their New Nation

March 31, 2026 @ 5:30 PM
Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System downtown branch
Free and open to the public. Adults
Dr. Ural will discuss how America’s founding documents inspired Abraham Lincoln’s understanding of freedom, democracy, and citizenship during the American Civil War.
Contact: Mona Vance-Ali, 662-329-5300
www.clplsamerica250.com

America250 Mississippi - Civil War Era Mississippians Debate America’s Founding Principles
2026-04-07 12:00 - 14:00 | Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, 314 7th St N, Columbus, MS, 39701, United States
Civil War Era Mississippians Debate America’s Founding Principles

April 7, 2026 @ 12 PM
Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System downtown branch
Free and open to the public. Adults
In this presentation, Dr. Ural, the Frank and Virginia Williams Chair for Abraham Lincoln & Civil War Studies at Mississippi State University and Co-Director of CWRGM, will share documents from the collection to help audience members understand how Mississippians remembered and fought over the nation’s founding traditions during the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Contact: Mona Vance-Ali, 662-329-5300
www.clplsamerica250.com

Everlasting Screening - Decatur
2026-04-07 13:30 - 15:30 | East Central Community College, 275 W Broad Street, Decatur, MS, 39327
Everlasting: Life and Legacy of Medgar Evers will be screening at East Central Community College thanks to a partnership between Mississippi Public Broadcasting, the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute, and the Mississippi Humanities Council. This original documentary from MPB explores the profound life, courage, and enduring influence of civil rights leader Medgar Wiley Evers.
The screening is free and open to the public and will be followed by a panel discussion on Evers’ legacy.
Tuesday, April 7, at 1:30 p.m. – Huff Auditorium, East Central Community College, Decatur

Words on Water - 1
2026-04-07 17:00 - 19:00 | Cutrer Mansion, 109 Clark St, Clarksdale, MS, 38614, United States
Join the Mississippi Humanities Council for “Words on Water: Reading, Reflection and Journeying on the Mississippi.” This two-week experience will bring together readers, students, educators, and community leaders for thoughtful discussions and a guided canoe journey along the Mississippi River near Clarksdale.
Participants will begin with conversations at the historic Cutrer Mansion centered on W. Ralph Eubanks’ acclaimed book When It’s Darkness on the Delta, then take those reflections onto the water with expert guides from Quapaw Canoe Company. The journey culminates in a special riverside dialogue with Eubanks himself, connecting story, history, and place in a powerful shared experience.
This program is part of the 2026 Being Human Festival and is supported by the National Humanities Center.
Registration is free and includes a copy of When It’s Darkness on the Delta, but space is limited, and attendees must commit to all four discussion dates.

April 7, 5–7 p.m. – Cutrer Mansion
April 14, 5–7 p.m. – Cutrer Mansion
April 21, 5–7 p.m. – Cutrer Mansion
April 25, 1–7:30 p.m. – Canoeing the Mississippi River, concluding with a meal and bonfire at the Quapaw Canoe landing

If you’re ready to read deeply, paddle boldly, and engage Mississippi’s stories “between the lines,” we encourage you to sign up today. The deadline for entry is March 29.
For more information or to reserve your spot, email Rei Lott at rlott@mhc.state.ms.us.

Speakers Bureau: “Developing Community Spaces: Storytelling, Stewardship, and the Soul of Place"
2026-04-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Community of Believers Cultural Fellowship, 719 3rd St, McComb, MS, 39648, United States
Kevin Enos 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.

Love Is a Sensation: Jackson Premiere Screening
2026-04-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Mississippi Museum of Art, 380 South Lamar Street, Jackson, MS, 39201
Thursday, April 9, 6 PM

In conjunction with the exhibition L.V. Hull: Love Is a Sensation, MMA is proud to host the premiere screening of the documentary Love is a Sensation directed by exhibition co-curator, producer, and editor Yaphet L. Smith, which lovingly documents the life and passions of the self-described “unusual artist,” L.V. Hull.
This screening will be followed by post screening conversation with exhibition guest curators Yaphet Smith.

Mrs. L.V. Hull Looking at Gift for B.B. King in Her Bedroom. L.V. Hull on her bed in her Kosciusko, Mississippi, home in 2003. Photo: Bruce West

America250 Mississippi - Colonial Brunch/Tea for All Ages!
2026-04-11 10:00 - 12:00 | Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, 314 7th St N, Columbus, MS, 39701, United States
Colonial Brunch/Tea for All Ages!

April 11, 2026 @ 10 AM-12 PM
Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System downtown branch
Free and open to the public. All ages
Attendees will eat brunch, drink tea, and can bring their own teacups to show off while learning about manners and clothing from the 1700s from living history reenactor Jeanette Watts.
Contact: Mona Vance-Ali, 662-329-5300
www.clplsamerica250.com

America250 Mississippi - Flower Fest
2026-04-11 11:00 - 15:00 | 1007 Joseph St, Ocean Springs, 1007 Joseph St, Ocean Springs, MS, 39564, United States
Time & Location

Apr 11, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:05 AM
1007 Joseph St, 1007 Joseph St, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, USA

About The Event

Join us on Saturday, April 11, from 11AM-3PM for the 4th Annual Flower Fest! A vibrant, eco-conscious celebration that invites the community to embrace the beauty of the natural world. Flower Fest is a free, family-friendly event designed to spark discovery, imagination, and community connection—all core to WAMA’s mission.
Inspired by Walter Anderson’s deep connection to the natural world, Flower Fest offers interactive art and environmental activities that encourage guests to see the world through the eyes of the artist. Every element of the festival is designed with sustainability in mind, using biodegradable materials to minimize environmental impact.
🎨 Hands-on art and nature activities that celebrate the beauty of the Gulf Coast
💐 Floral-inspired creations, including boutique-making with La Terre Farms and flower crowns with Palmette
🌿 Seeds and plants from local growers to bring a piece of nature home
🎶 Live music

Read More >

RSVP

America250 - "Blues IS Black History - Healing the Broken Memory. We are still African." Program at the 23rd Annual Juke Joint Festival
2026-04-11 11:00 - 18:00 | Crossroads Cultural Arts Center, 332 Delta Ave, Clarksdale, MS, 38614, United States
Through a series of presentations, conversations and oral histories, we’ll explore the unacknowledged yet enduring presence of African culture in the Mississippi Delta. From the songs of the Mabo’s, Jeli’s, Jali’s or griots of west Africa and early Blues recorded by Alan Lomax to contemporary Southern Soul and new explorations of African influence in films like Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, these conversations trace an epic oral history from before the Middle Passage to today.

America250 Mississippi - Southern Dish LIVE + Deep South Dining LIVE from The MAX @ Sipp & Savor
2026-04-11 18:00 - 21:00 | Virtual
Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s hit radio show, Deep South Dining, and newest original television series, Southern Dish, will be broadcasting live from the Sipp and Savor festival at the MAX. They’ll be diving into the powerful food traditions and talented creators that make Mississippi a culinary destination against the backdrop of one of the state’s premier food festivals.

Natchez Screening – Vicksburg
2026-04-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Strand Theatre, 717 Clay Street, Vicksburg, MS, 39183
Join us for a free event featuring a screening of Natchez at 7 p.m., on Saturday, April 11, at the Strand Theatre in Vicksburg. This 86-minute documentary journeys through an antebellum tourist destination at a crossroads as it grapples with a deeply troubled history.
The program will include a post-screening panel featuring local scholars, community voices, individuals from the film, and, at most sites, the filmmakers themselves. For more information, visit mshumanities.org/program/screenings.
Other MHC-sponsored screenings of Natchez include:

April 11, 7 p.m. at the Strand Theatre, Vicksburg
April 12, 2 p.m. at the Two Mississippi Museums, Jackson
April 14, 5:30 p.m. at the MUW Fant Library, Columbus
April 20, 5:30 p.m. at The Apothecary, Holly Springs
May 28, 6 p.m. at the Palace Theater, McComb
May 29, 6 p.m. at the Delta Arts Alliance, Cleveland

Natchez Screening – Jackson
2026-04-12 14:00 - 16:00 | TWO MISSISSIPPI MUSEUMS, 222 NORTH STREET , JACKSON, MS, United States
Join us for a free event featuring a screening of Natchez at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 12, in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson. This 86-minute documentary journeys through an antebellum tourist destination at a crossroads as it grapples with a deeply troubled history. Following the screening, a panel conversation will feature director Suzannah Herbert, producer Dacy McKinnon, Barney Schoby of the National Park Service, and Tracy Collins, known as “Rev” in the film. For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.
Other MHC-sponsored screenings of Natchez include:

April 11, 7 p.m. at the Strand Theatre, Vicksburg
April 12, 2 p.m. at the Two Mississippi Museums, Jackson
April 14, 5:30 p.m. at the MUW Fant Library, Columbus
April 20, 5:30 p.m. at The Apothecary, Holly Springs
May 28, 6 p.m. at the Palace Theater, McComb
May 29, 6 p.m. at the Delta Arts Alliance, Cleveland

Speakers Bureau: “See the “REAL” Mississippi"
2026-04-13 17:30 - 19:30 | Mississippi Cultural Crossroads building, 507 Market St, Port Gibson, MS, 39150, United States
Rev. Tracy Collins presents “See the “REAL” Mississippi”
Through vivid storytelling and on-the-ground interpretation, this program invites audiences to confront the layered history of Natchez – a city long celebrated for its beauty and wealth, yet rooted in the brutal realities of slavery and economic exploitation. As featured in the documentary Natchez, the presentation uncovers the contrast between the carefully curated image of “Old South grandeur” and the lived truth of those whose labor and suffering built prosperity.
Drawing from nearly a decade of research and public engagement, this presentation explores how power, greed, and moral compromise shaped not only antebellum Natchez but the broader American story. Participants will examine how myths of the Confederacy, racial hierarchy, and economic ambition were deliberately constructed – and how their legacies persist today in our social and cultural landscapes.
This is not a nostalgic tour but an honest reckoning with history: how a city became “the richest place in the world” before the Civil War, and what that wealth cost in human terms. By tracing these intersecting forces of economy, religion, and identity, “See the ‘REAL’ Mississippi” offers audiences a deeper understanding of how memory, morality, and justice continue to shape civic life in Mississippi and beyond.

Words on Water - 2
2026-04-14 17:00 - 19:00 | Cutrer Mansion, 109 Clark St, Clarksdale, MS, 38614, United States

Natchez Screening – Columbus
2026-04-14 17:30 - 19:30 | Mississippi University for Women – Fant Memorial Library, 1200 5th Ave S, Columbus, MS, 39701, United States
Join us for a free event featuring a screening of Natchez at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14, in the Fant Memorial Library at the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus. This 86-minute documentary journeys through an antebellum tourist destination at a crossroads as it grapples with a deeply troubled history.
The program will include a post-screening panel featuring local scholars, community voices, individuals from the film, and, at most sites, the filmmakers themselves. For more information, visit mshumanities.org/program/screenings.
Other MHC-sponsored screenings of Natchez include:

April 11, 7 p.m. at the Strand Theatre, Vicksburg
April 12, 2 p.m. at the Two Mississippi Museums, Jackson
April 14, 5:30 p.m. at the MUW Fant Library, Columbus
April 20, 5:30 p.m. at The Apothecary, Holly Springs
May 28, 6 p.m. at the Palace Theater, McComb
May 29, 6 p.m. at the Delta Arts Alliance, Cleveland

America250 Mississippi: Artist Talk with Thad Lee
2026-04-14 17:30 - 21:00 | The University of Mississippi Museum, 5th St. & University, Oxford, MS, 38655, United States
Join the University of Mississippi Museum next Tuesday, April 14th, for an artist talk with Thad Lee.
Thad Lee is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and photographer. He studied English and Philosophy at the University of Mississippi and earned an MFA in Screenwriting from the University of New Orleans.
His photography explores abstract patterns in nature, including his Murmurations series and experimental Moon Paintings created with long-exposure light techniques. He received a 2021 Artist Fellowship from the Mississippi Arts Commission and has exhibited widely.
He lives in Oxford, Mississippi with his wife and son. Thad’s work is on exhibit in Unvanquished Soil: A Year at Greenfield Farm.
Now on view at the University of Mississippi Museum, Unvanquished Soil is an official America250 project and was made possible by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council, through support from the State of Mississippi.

Everlasting Screening - Oxford
2026-04-14 18:00 - 20:00 | The Grove Stage, University of Mississippi, 49 University Ave, University, MS, 38677, United States
Everlasting: Life and Legacy of Medgar Evers will be screening at the University of Mississippi thanks to a partnership between Mississippi Public Broadcasting, the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute, and the Mississippi Humanities Council. This original documentary from MPB explores the profound life, courage, and enduring influence of civil rights leader Medgar Wiley Evers.

The screening is free and open to the public and will be followed by a panel discussion on Evers’ legacy.

Tuesday, April 14, 5:30 p.m. – Overby Auditorium, The University of Mississippi, Oxford

America250 Mississippi: Behind the Big House 2026
2026-04-16 08:30 - 2026-04-19 17:00 | Hugh Craft House and Property, 184 South Memphis Street, Holly Springs, MS, United States
Behind the Big House 2026 will take place April 16-18, 2026 at 184 S. Memphis Street, Holly Springs, MS. The property site, owned by Rosa Foundation, includes the 1847 living quarters and kitchen built for enslaved Africans and the 1851 family home of Hugh and Elizabeth Craft. The program focuses on the history and culture of enslaved Africans in northern Mississippi with public tours facilitated by experienced historical interpreters. Through narratives that have often been overlooked or suppressed, our experts will highlight the daily lives and work of enslaved adults and children within the context of the social, economic, and cultural context of northern Mississippi in the mid-19th century.

Free Tours with Historical Interpretation:

Thu, April 16

8:45 – 2:45 School Field Trips
2:45 – 5:00 Everyone is welcome!

Fri, April 17

8:45 – 2:45 School Field Trips
2:45 – 5:00 Everyone is welcome!

Sat, April 18

9:00 – 5:00 Everyone is welcome!

Speakers Bureau: "Spanish Dons in Colonial Mississippi: The Spanish roots of Mississippi’s Cotton Kingdom"
2026-04-16 12:00 - 15:00 | Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, 314 7th St N, Columbus, MS, 39701, United States
Christian Pinnen presents: “Spanish Dons in Colonial Mississippi: The Spanish roots of Mississippi’s Cotton Kingdom”
Spain has a short, but important part in Mississippi’s history. Between 1779 and 1798, Spanish administrators sought to wrangle profits and people in small outpost, most prominently Natchez, along the Mississippi River. Enforcing Spanish laws and customs in a polyglot and largely Anglo-American population proved treacherous and created economic and social dynamics that gave rise to more than one chaotic episode as people tried to gain influence and power along the Mississippi.

America250 Mississippi: Voices of Mid-Mississippi: A Community Time Capsule
2026-04-20 - 2026-06-30 | 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.

Natchez Screening – Holly Springs
2026-04-20 17:30 - 20:00 | The Apothecary, 132 East College Avenue, Holly Springs, MS, 38635, United States
Join us for a free event featuring a screening of Natchez at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 20, in The Apothecary in Holly Springs. This 86-minute documentary journeys through an antebellum tourist destination at a crossroads as it grapples with a deeply troubled history.
The program will include a post-screening panel featuring local scholars, community voices, individuals from the film, and, at most sites, the filmmakers themselves. For more information, visit mshumanities.org/program/screenings.
Other MHC-sponsored screenings of Natchez include:

April 11, 7 p.m. at the Strand Theatre, Vicksburg
April 12, 2 p.m. at the Two Mississippi Museums, Jackson
April 14, 5:30 p.m. at the MUW Fant Library, Columbus
April 20, 5:30 p.m. at The Apothecary, Holly Springs
May 28, 6 p.m. at the Palace Theater, McComb
May 29, 6 p.m. at the Delta Arts Alliance, Cleveland

Speakers Bureau: "The American Revolution in the Gulf South"
2026-04-21 12:00 - 15:00 | Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, 314 7th St N, Columbus, MS, 39701, United States
Max Grivno presents: “The American Revolution in the Gulf South”
The history of the American Revolution along the Gulf South is seldom told. Although most of the Europeans who called the region were sympathetic to the British — or at least hoped to remain neutral — the conflict soon engulfed the territory of what would, in time, become Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. This presentation examines how the American Revolution transformed the Gulf South. It tells the story of how the Americans, British and Spanish vied for control of the Mississippi River and Gulf seaports, and how the Choctaws and Chickasaws struggled to preserve their homelands by courting the rival powers. It describes James Willing’s disastrous raid on Natchez, the Choctaw occupation of Natchez and the campaign launched by Spanish Bernardo de Galvez, who conquered Natchez and Pensacola and drove the British from the region. The lecture also discusses the consequences of the Revolution for the people of the Gulf Coast In the aftermath of the war, the Spanish and the Americans vied to control Natchez and the territory around present-day Vicksburg, while native confederacies like the Choctaw and Chickasaw grappled with the rising power of the United States.

Words on Water - 3
2026-04-21 17:00 - 19:00 | Cutrer Mansion, 109 Clark St, Clarksdale, MS, 38614, United States

America250 Mississippi - Greenwood Cemetery Showcase
2026-04-23 18:30 - 20:30 | Belhaven University – McCravey-Triplett Student Center, 1500 Peachtree Street, Jackson, MS, 39202, United States
Join us for a preview of the videos Belhaven University students have worked on, showcasing the following, buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Jones S. Hamilton: Railroad pioneer and the story of his infamous murder trial.

Dr. Lewis T. Fitzhugh: The founding President of Belhaven University.

Lucius Lamar Mayes: The visionary developer behind the Belhaven neighborhood.

Lucy Tapley: A trailblazer and the first known woman to vote in Mississippi.

David Buck: A look at the modern-day tradition of beekeeping within the cemetery.

Words on Water - 4
2026-04-25 13:00 - 19:30 | Cutrer Mansion, 109 Clark St, Clarksdale, MS, 38614, United States

America250 Mississippi: Magee Chamber of Commerce America 250 Service Project
2026-05-01 - 2026-07-04 | Magee Chamber of Commerce, 117 1st Ave NW, Magee, MS, 39111, United States
The Chamber of Commerce in Magee along with all interested clubs, organizations, churches, businesses and individuals will be collecting 250 items to donate to the Veterans Home to show appreciation for their part in our rich history.

America250 Mississippi - Jimmie Rodgers Music Festival Bluegrass Night
2026-05-07 18:00 - 21:00 | The MAX, 2118 Front St, Meridian, MS, 39301, United States
America’s longest-running music festival kicks off with a free performance curated by the Bluegrass Standard, featuring bluegrass legends The Grascals, Southern Legacy, and Becky Buller & Ned Luberecki.
To learn more about the Jimmie Rodgers Music Festival, or to purchase tickets for Lach Thorton, Maggie Antone, Brent Cobb, Jamestown Revival, or Marcus King Band, please click here.

Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Utica
2026-05-16 - 2026-06-27 | Utica Institute Museum, 34175 MS-18,, Utica, MS, 39175, United States
Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Utica

Join MHC in Utica for the Spark! Places of Innovation tour of Mississippi!
May 16-June 27, 2026
Utica Institute Museum at Hinds Community College Utica Campus
601-885-7110 | uticainstitute.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.

Everlasting Screening - Vicksburg
2026-05-16 17:30 - 19:30 | Strand Theatre, 717 Clay Street, Vicksburg, MS, 39183
Everlasting: Life and Legacy of Medgar Evers will be screening at the Strand Theatre thanks to a partnership between Mississippi Public Broadcasting, the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute, and the Mississippi Humanities Council. This original documentary from MPB explores the profound life, courage, and enduring influence of civil rights leader Medgar Wiley Evers.

The screening is free and open to the public and will be followed by a panel discussion on Evers’ legacy.

Saturday, May 16, 5:30 p.m. – The Strand Theatre, Vicksburg
