Mississippi Action for Community Education (MACE) is getting ready for this year’s Mississippi Delta Blues & Heritage Festival.
The 42nd annual blues festival is set for Sept. 21 at the Washington County Convention Center fairgrounds. Gates open at 10 a.m. and the festival starts at noon.
The Mississippi Delta Blues Festival began in 1978 and is the blues festival is the longest continuously-operating blues festival in the world, and serves as the key fundraiser for MACE.
One of the ways they’ve kicked off the fun was by hosting their kickoff event in front of their building on Theobald Street.
MACE Committee Member Chancey Wright said the kick-off event was a success and there were approximately 300 people in attendance.
At this year’s festival in September, there will be two stages, the Main Stage and the Jukehouse Stage. The Main Stage will be open from noon to 10 p.m. and the Jukehouse Stage will be open from 1 p.m. to sunset.
The musical lineup for this year’s festival features Grammy Award winner Bobby Rush; Big Pokey; Calvin Richardson; Mike and Jerry Kattawar; Nathaniel Kimble; John Horton; Sweet Angel; Grady Champion; and J Cenae. Also perfoming, Butch Mudbone; Keith Johnson & Muddy Band; and The Rising Star Fife & Drum Band.
For attendees, there are some rules that must be abided by, including:
- absolutely no grills;
- no re-entry;
- tents are available for designated areas only; and
- small coolers only are allowed (maximum size is 12x12x12).
This year’s sponsors for the festival are MACE; Mississippi State Department of Health; McDonald’s; Dollar General; Entergy; Mitchell Companies; Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa; Visit Mississippi; Washington County Visitors/Convention Bureau; and Southland Management Corporation.
Tickets cost $25 in advance and $30 at the gate.
Tickets can be purchased across the Delta, including Garfield’s Restaurant & Pub and Disco Den in Greenville; Senator’s Place in Cleveland; Harris Shoe Shop in Greenwood; and the B.B. King Museum in Indianola.
Tickets can also be purchased online at deltabluesms.org.
For more information about the festival, call MACE at 662-335-3523.
