The Mississippi Main Street Blog

Natchez to Open Hotel

The town of Natchez will soon celebrate the opening of the new 119 room Country Inn and Suites. Nineteen of the rooms will be luxury suites with balconies overlooking the Mississippi River and downtown Natchez. The new hotel will be associated with the Carlson Group, owners of hotel chains Radisson, Park Inns and Regent Hotels.

Natchez has recently wrapped up their Spring Pilgrimage Antebellum Home Tours. Natchez has been named a Distinctive Destination by the National Trust for Historic Preservaton, one of only two Mississippi towns given this honor. Natchez has been a member of Mississippi Main Street since 1997. Visit Natchez at http://www.natchez.ms.us/default.cfm.  (Picture at top: Room at Country Inn and Suites, Picture at bottom: Longwood Mansion)

Clarksdale's Juke Joint Festival April 18-20

This year's Juke Joint Festival & Related Events in Clarksdale are planned for Friday afternoon through Sunday evening, April 18-20, with the actual festival on April 19th.

"Deltans are proud of their region, so we try to showcase all we have to offer here," explains Nan Hughes, a key festival organizer. "That's why much of our music and entertainment is from the Delta and the South."

The festival will feature the ever-popular pig races, bluesmen, a 5K Run, student art show, mini film festival, history bus tours, turkey/duck contest, arts & crafts, petting zoo, rock wall, Segway course, music stages, and much more.

For more information on Clarksdale's 5th Annual Juke Joint Festival & Related Events, log on at www.jukejointfestival.com or call 662-624-5992.

21st Annual Riverfest in Vicksburg April 18-19

Riverfest 2008 will take place in Downtown Vicksburg April 18th and 19th. For a detailed schedule of activities and performances, visit www.riverfestms.com.

Court Square Inn Bed & Breakfast

I recently had a wonderful stay at the Court Square Inn Bed & Breakfast in Holly Springs. Owners Tim and Lisa Liddy have transformed a corner of the square by creating three upstairs suites. Spacious and luxurious with a flavor of New Orleans (where most of the antique furniture is from), your $100 goes a long way here.

Breakfast is already ready for you in the morning with an assortment of cereals, oatmeal, fruit, yogurt and pastries from a next door bakery as well as coffee, tea orange juice and milk. The ceilings are high, floors are hardwood, and a wide, spacious porch outside the suites overlooks the side street with tables and chairs for eating on or lounging.

My only wish was that I could spend another night! I will definitely be back. This upstairs residential unit will be part of our featured tour of Upstairs Housing of Main Street towns in Mississippi. This is one stop you will want to make in Mississippi! Call 1-800-926-3686 to make reservations.

2008 Picayune Egg Drop

Picayune Main Street had another successful Egg Drop. This year 10,000 plastic eggs were dropped from planes at Picayune Airport. A great example of a Mississippi Main Street event! To view the video, click here. To read the full article, click here.

Spring Street Fair in Picayune Kicks Off

The Picayune Spring Street Fair, sponsored by Picayune Main Street, Inc., will be held this Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. in downtown Picayune.
The street fair has been held bi-annually on the first weekend of April and November since it began in 1997, said Picayune Main Street Manager Reeba Beebe.
More than 250 vendors will be on hand this weekend to sell their goods, including antiques, collectibles, arts, crafts, jewelry, unique t-shirts and various other items for people of all ages. There will be numerous food and beverage booths serving various cuisine, including Cajun, Greek, barbecue and seafood.
There will be many activities for the family, including a train ride, bungee jumping, a rock wall climb and pony rides.
On Saturday, the Boulevard Cruisers will hold a car show for everyone's enjoyment. Also at 9 a.m. Saturday, the Third Annual Tung Blossom 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run will be held at Jack Read Park.
In addition to the rides and race, entertainment will be provided. Saturday performers include Spinner Bait, the Piney Woods Cloggers, the Rockin' Robinsons, Southern Vibe Cloggers, Dusty Rainer, Pistols and Petticoats, Jennifer Farmer, Todd Smith and Ryan Foulon. Sunday performers include The Rockin' Robinsons, Oriental Martial Arts, Pistols and Petticoats, Caruso's Academy of Performing Arts, Eddie Young and Cornerstone.
For more information about the Picayune Street Fair, contact Picayune Main Street at 601-799-3070.