Lindsay DawsonThis weekend, a celebration of the Delta’s food and music will be coming to Clarksdale.
The Juke Joint Festival is an annual event, bringing large masses to the Mississippi Delta. This year’s festival is projected to have biggest turnout yet, boasting media presence and attendees from multiple countries. The Juke Joint Festival has been a hit for the past 15 years and is still on the rise.
“In past years, we have attracted attendance from as many as 48 different countries, 46 U.S. States and 53 Mississippi counties in the same year,” co-organizer Roger Stolle said.
This small town Mississippi festival has a weekend packed with family fun and experiences filled with Southern charm.
There are multiple kick-off events, including a Thacker Mountain radio show on Friday beginning at 6 p.m. to promote the weekend and offer a glimpse of what is to come. The show will feature Roger Stolle, James “Super Chikan” Johnson and Big George Brock. There will also be a free kick-off event Thursday, hosted by the Juke Joint Festival, with free entertainment by Sean “Bad” Apple and the Roots Magic Band and a free poster signing with Cristen Barnard. These events start at 5 p.m. and last until 7:30 p.m.
The biggest day for the festival is Saturday when multiple blues acts will perform and various activities will be available throughout the day. The festival includes pig races, student art and writing contests, a 5k run, food and a petting zoo, making this an event that appeals to all of the community. While most of the events are free, the nighttime music requires a wristband. The nighttime events include a historic bus tour and more live blues music. There will be 13 daytime music stages, 20 nighttime venues and 100 different street vendors.
Sunday will conclude the festival, with the free Cat Head Mini Blues Fest and the Second Street Blues Party. These will include more fun music, and local restaurants will be ready to feed the town.
The Juke Joint Festival is often described as “half blues festival, half small town fair and all about the Delta.” With so many events going on, “You literally cannot do, see, and hear everything,” according to the festival’s website. The festival truly incorporates the town and the community into this festival, proving a fun family environment. The Juke Joint Festival aims to display the culture of the Delta, showcasing Southern food and pure Mississippi blues.
