Free folk festival returns to downtown Jackson

The National Folk Festival will return to Jackson this November for its second year, offering free access to music, food, and artisan markets across the downtown core. The event runs from Friday, Nov. 13, through Sunday, Nov. 15, marking the second of three planned weekends for the 2026 edition.

Organizers are focusing on Mississippi as a central theme for the festival, which was founded in 1934 and served by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in its early years. The event aims to showcase the roots and variety of American culture, with a specific emphasis on the state’s musical heritage. Jackson is the first Mississippi city to host the festival, following a debut in 2025.

Music performances will anchor the schedule, beginning on Friday, Nov. 13, with a concert on the Visit Mississippi Stage. The headlining act is Cedric Burnside & Rising Stars Fife & Drum, a group that combines hill country blues with African American fife and drum traditions. Friday activities continue until 9:30 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday events run from noon to 9:30 p.m. and noon to 6 p.m., respectively.

The festival will utilize nine distinct stages for performances and vendor setups. Key locations include the Ergon/Alliant Stage in front of the Old Capitol Museum and the StateStreet Group Dance Pavilion in the “Welcome to Jackson” lot. Additional performance spaces are located in Smith Park, including the Community Foundation for Mississippi/W.K. Kellogg Foundation Family Stage and the Mississippi Folklife Narrative Stage. Street performances will also take place along Capitol and Congress Streets.

Local and regional performers are confirmed for the lineup. Blues artist Eddie Cotton Jr., based in Clinton, and the Jackson-based Mississippi Mass Choir will perform. The schedule also features New York beatboxer Rahzel. Food vendors include Las Delicias, a Mexican restaurant from Leland, and the Big Apple Inn, a local Jackson establishment. A festival market will display handmade jewelry and bags from 23 Mississippi artists and craftspeople.

Vendors selling food and merchandise will open at 5 p.m. on Friday and at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. All musical events and performances are free to the public. The festival serves as the second of three scheduled weekends for the 2026 National Folk Festival tour.