Five Ways to Shop & Support Local JXN
The gift of giving back to the local community's creatives, business owners, institutions, and entrepreneurs has never been easier with these five picks you can only find in the City With Soul.
Gift An Experience
With dozens of museums in Jackson, a new adventure awaits every age and interest. Purchase passes for friends and family to places like the Mississippi Museum of Art, Two Mississippi Museums, and Mississippi Children's Museum for a gift that lasts well into the new year. Bonus - many of Jackson's museums have their own gift shops, like the Mississippi Ag & Forestry Museum's General Store, where you can find old-fashioned candy, toys, Mississippi produce and honey, and the museum's line of jarred goods. If your giftee is into shows and music, the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and Thalia Mara Hall have several fantastic music, theater, and ballet experiences upcoming in 2023.
Get Outdoors And Support Mississippi State Parks
Did you know that Jackson has a 305-acre park right in its backyard? LeFleur's Bluff State Park offers camping, fishing, picnic spots, nature trails, a disc golf course and great views of the Pearl River. Reserve a campsite online and grab your friends and family for a weekend in the fresh air. After all, Mississippi winters can be mild, making the park ideal year-round.
Plan A Future Date Night At A Jackson Restaurant
A lot of times, the best gifts are getting to share moments with the ones you love. Grab a gift card from one of the city's numerous acclaimed restaurants for a future date night, like Elvie's, which made the New York Times' Top 50 Favorite Restaurants for 2022. More of a breakfast person? Places like The Bean, Cups Fondren, and Urban Foxes are perfect for gifting a few coffee visits (and for great merch like mugs, tees and more!) For the person with a sweet tooth, gifting a few scoops of Mayday Ice Cream is the perfect treat for hot and cold months.
Trade Amazon for Local Artisans and Shops
When you purchase from a local shopkeeper, you're helping support the city. Shop Jackson-exclusive products at Cathead Distillery vodka, Lofton & Co. candles, and Mississippi-founded Thimblepress® for a present with a lot of hospitality. You can also score unique finds at Offbeat, Swell-O-Phonic, Beans and Bananas, Haven Curated Home and Conkrete Kickz Sneaker Boutique for that hard-to-gift-for co-worker or friend.
Support the Arts & Crafts (Beer)
One of the most meaningful gifts you can add to your shopping list this year is the work of a local talent. "[There are] lots of terrific local artists to support," says painter Ellen Langford. She names Sabrina Howard, Ginger Williams Cook, Wendy Eddleman Cooper and Adrien Dominick among those who produce one-of-a-kind, artistic masterpieces right here in Jackson.
Artists in their own right, the brewers at Fertile Ground Beer Co. at Belhaven Town Center concoct crafty creations in the heart of the city. In addition to the many selections on tap, cans can be purchased on-site in the tap room (take home a six-pack of your favorite selections), and their brews can be found on tap across the city. Gift cards are also available.
