Event Info
- 01
The National Folk Festival is the nation’s longest-running traditional arts event, a FREE, three-day outdoor multicultural celebration of music, dance, and traditional arts and culture, which historically draws upwards of 150,000 attendees by year three, along with an economic impact ranging from approximately $15-30 million a year.
Produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the National Folk Festival has been presented in 28 cities across the country—from Richmond, VA, and Butte, MT, to Lowell, MA, and St. Louis, MO—since its inception in 1934.
This is the first time in the festival’s long history that it has been presented in Mississippi—often considered the birthplace of America’s music—as well as the Deep South.
- 02
Jackson is the host city for the National Folk Festival for three years, from 2025 to 2027.
The National Folk Festival partners with communities across the nation to present the festival, free to the public, for three years with the understanding that the local host community intends to continue its own festival once the National moves on to its next site.
- 03
The 82nd National Folk Festival will be held in downtown Jackson, MS, November 7-9, 2025.
The dates for years 2026 and 2027 will be announced soon.
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Friday, Nov. 7: 6:00 p.m.* - 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7: Noon* - 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 8: Noon* - 6:00 p.m.
* Food Vendors and the Festival Marketplace will open at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, and at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Get the festival schedule here.
- 04
The 82nd National Folk Festival will take place in downtown Jackson, Mississippi, from State Street to Farish Street and from Pascagoula Street to Mississippi Street.
- 05
Multiple parking decks and public lots are available downtown for an hourly rate. Designated handicapped parking spaces are available in all public lots and downtown parking garages.
For more, visit Directions/Parking.
- 06
FREE festival parking is available within walking distance of the festival at the southwest corner of the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, near the intersection of Jefferson St and Madison St. An ADA-compliant shuttle with limited space will be running during festival hours. Festivalgoers can catch the shuttle at the Jefferson St entrance. The shuttle stop at the festival will be located near the intersection of State St and Amite St.
For more info on satellite parking and free JTRAN service during the festival, visit Directions/Parking.
- 07
The National Folk Festival will go on, rain or shine. In the event of rain, please visit guest services booths located throughout the festival to receive an updated performance schedule. The festival’s three tented stages offer a dry environment in which you can enjoy the performances. All best efforts will be made to present performances regardless of weather.
Safety is our highest priority, and we monitor all potential weather-related impacts on our audiences. If severe weather is observed in the area, we will make announcements from stages including the severity of the storm, evacuation, and/or event suspension procedures.
- 08
The National Folk Festival is a FREE event—you can enjoy the performances, the Mississippi Folklife Area & Stage, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Family Stage and C Spire Foundation | Regions Bank Family Activities Area at no cost. Food, drink, and merchandise are available for sale.
To keep it going we need your support. Please donate as you can by putting a drop in the bucket—$5, $10, $20.
- 09
Help keep the National Folk Festival a FREE event!
A group of community volunteers carrying buckets will be circulating during the festival asking for your support. All donations made through the bucket brigade help to directly cover the costs of the festival.
The suggested donation is $10 per person per day.
Thank you in advance for your support!
- 10
Listen in live on Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s MPB Think Radio throughout the festival weekend. More info at MPBOnline.org.
- 11
Four Guest Services Booths are located throughout the festival. Volunteers will be on hand to assist you and answer questions. First Aid personnel are also available. Locations are marked on the festival map, available for download and on site.
- 12
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, go to one of the four Guest Services booths to be connected with emergency services. Guest Services booths are well-marked on festival maps, posted around the festival site.
- 13
Portable restrooms are located throughout the festival.
- 14
Please help protect the environment and historic Downtown Jackson by disposing of trash in designated locations throughout the festival site.
- 15
The National Folk Festival is welcoming to participants with all levels of abilities. All stages and areas allow accessibility for mobility devices.
Interpretation Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Attendees
Check your Pocket Schedule or stop by any of the four Guest Services Booths located throughout the festival for details about which performances will be interpreted.
- 16
If a child or person in your party gets lost please approach a staff member or volunteer immediately. Staff and volunteers have access to persons with radios, who can get you help right away.
- 17
Items that are not permitted include, but are not limited to:
Pets (service animals are permitted)
Coolers
Large backpacks
Alcohol
Bottles/glass containers
Contraband (drugs and weapons)
Laser pointers
Bikes, skateboards, inline skates
Flying objects (drones, kites, Frisbees, footballs, etc.)
- 18
Tailgating is not permitted in Downtown Jackson during the 82nd National Folk Festival. No unauthorized vehicles are allowed on the festival site. Attendees are not allowed to bring coolers, glass bottles or containers, alcohol, and grills to the festival.
- 19
Special photographers and videographers have been hired by festival organizers to document the event. Some images and videos may be used in later promotional materials.
Your presence at the event is seen as your permission for such promotional use by the non-profit organizers.
- 20
If you experience odd behavior or see something you know shouldn’t be somewhere, say something. Report suspicious behavior to any security, staff, or volunteer team member.
We are committed to accessibility.
The National Folk Festival is welcoming to participants with all levels of abilities. All stages and areas allow accessibility for mobility devices.
Interpretation Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Attendees
Check your Pocket Schedule or stop by any of the four Guest Services Booths located throughout the festival for details about which performances will be interpreted.
Getting to the National Folk Festival
Multiple parking decks and public lots are available downtown for an hourly rate. Designated handicapped parking spaces are available in all public lots and downtown parking garages.
FREE festival parking is available within walking distance of the festival at the southwest corner of the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, near the intersection of Jefferson St and Madison St. An ADA-compliant shuttle with limited space will be running during festival hours. Festivalgoers can catch the shuttle at the Jefferson St entrance. The shuttle stop at the festival will be located near the intersection of State St and Amite St.
For more info on directions, parking, and free JTRAN service during the festival, visit Directions/Parking.