Top Things to Do in Jackson, Mississippi
Planning a trip to Jackson and need to know what's not to miss? Let us show you the top things to do in the City With Soul.
Step Back in History & See How It's Shaping Today
COFO Civil Rights Education CenterFrom the proud legacy of Medgar Evers to the powerful present-day retelling in our museums, the history of the movement is here. Jackson served as a drum major for many moments in history that had a significant impact on the scope of America. Explore these events and the people who made them happen at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center, the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and the COFO Center at JSU.
Try Soulful, Eclectic Cuisine
You won't find a cookie-cutter dining experience here. From mom-and-pop holes-in-the-wall to James Beard award-winning restaurants, enjoy seafood, tamales, Cajun, Greek and barbecue, even French patisseries and quaint coffee shops. Try Brent's for a classic diner, or Bully's for Southern-style meals. Walker's Drive-In, Pultio Osteria or Elvie’s offer causal fine dining. For the classics, try Mayflower Cafe, a stalwart for seafood, and Hal & Mal's NOLA-vibe, both in downtown Jackson.
Hear the Sounds of The Birthplace of America's Music
From live concerts to historic music markers and record shops, the City With Soul has a plethora to do to celebrate Mississippi's storied musical heritage. The Central Blues Mississippi Society's Blue Monday is hosted at Hal & Mal's every Monday night to celebrate the blues. Catch local, regional and national bands performing weekly at Duling Hall or Martin's Downtown or after hour blues at F Jones Corner in the Historic Farish Street District. Take in a Mississippi Symphony Orchestra performance at Thalia Mara Hall or explore the Mississippi Blues Trail.
Immerse Yourself in the Works of Award-Winning Writers
The capital city has plenty of bookish spots to celebrate literature, whether you want to kick back with a good read or have a writer-inspired cocktail. Mississippi's rich literary history precedes itself, with authors like William Faulker, Eudora Welty, Richard Wright, John Grisham, and Angie Thomas hailing from the state, to name but a few. In Jackson, check out one of the country's most intact literary museums, the Eudora Welty House and Garden. Peruse the first-editions section at Lemuria Books. Study the works of Margaret Walker Alexander at the center named for her at Jackson State University. Or, sip a literary themed beverage at Coffee Prose or The Library Lounge.
Explore Our Artistic Scene
Public art gives a human element to the cityscape, connecting those that walk its streets. Creativity is on display through various murals and sculpture (our public art map comes in handy for exploration). Pearl River Glass Studio—nearly 50 years in the making—specializes in stained class applications both big and small. Wolfe Studio showcases paintings, prints, and colorful ceramic birds and animals by Elizabeth (Bebe) Wolfe. The Mississippi Museum of Art exhibits the state's largest art collection, as well as rotating exhibitions featuring nationally known artists. If performance art is your thing, New Stage Theatre offers professional, regional stage plays from actors know locally and nationwide. And, if you want to immerse yourself in the most artsy neighborhood in Jackson, make a stop in Fondren.
