2024 Features & Attractions
Find something for everyone!
As Told by Sir
See your heart etched in verse. Visit our poet in residence, Stephen Randle, on the festival lawn and have a poem tailored and typed just for you… crafting your story, as told by SIR.
Authors Alley
Presented by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi
More than 100 authors and artists are positioned to sell their most recent works in large tents along Mississippi Street and N. West Street, all day.
Book Signing Tent
Presented by Butler Snow
Don’t miss out on your chance to meet your favorite author one-on-one in the book signing tent, located on the south lawn of the Capitol! Participating Official Panelists will be available for book signings at appointed times.
Booksellers Row
Independent booksellers are showcased at the center of the festival, directly across from the Book Signings Tent, along Mississippi Street and N. President Street, all day.
- Bookends
- Carpe Librum
- Cosworth Publishing
- Hudson Publishers
- Kerry Anne Co.
- LeARnLab
- Lemuria
- Lorelei Books
- Luna Press
- Mississippi Museum of Art
- Monument Lab
- OffBeat
- Revival Press & Publishing
- Rose and Pearl Publishing
- Sister Macs
- Three Fortnights Press
- University Press of Mississippi
- Unroll the Scroll
- Violet Valley Bookstore
Capitol Showcase
See inspiring exhibits on the ground floor of the Capitol Building in the Rotunda throughout the day.
- Margaret Walker Center at JSU
- Mississippi Humanities Council
- USM de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection
- USM Center for Writers
See hallway exhibits on the ground floor of the Capitol Building in the hallway leading to Room 113 throughout the day.
- Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters
- Chickasaw Inkana Foundation
- Greenfield Farm Writer’s Residency
- Walter Anderson Museum
Capitol Tours
This unique opportunity to see the grandeur of Mississippi’s State Capitol building is not to be missed! Every hour, beginning at 10:00 am, take advantage of this unique opportunity! Tours start at the ground floor visitor desk. Last tour is at 4:00 pm.
Children’s Museum
Presented by Mississippi Children’s Museum
Come play and learn with your friends and family at the Children’s Museum tent!
Community Lawn
Presented by Amazon
Organizations (non-profit, government, charitable) have it made in the shade with a provided tent and table on the south lawn of the Capitol grounds. No sales are allowed in this area, but there’s lots to see and share, all day!
- Big House Books
- Books for Jackson’s Children
- Eudora Welty House & Garden
- Homegrown: A Writers’ Exchange
- Human Rights Campaign
- Jackson Friends of the Library
- Madison County Library System
- Millsaps College
- Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX)
- Mississippi College School of Law
- Mississippi Public Broadcasting
- MSU’s College of Arts & Sciences’ Humanities Camp
- NASA Stennis Space Center
- Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration
- National Folk Festival
- Soulful Parenting and Caregiving Initiative, The Center for Ministry, Millsaps College
- The Creative Haven
- The Garden Club of Jackson
- University of Southern Mississippi
- Volunteer Mississippi
Cooling Stations
Presented by Volunteer Mississippi; Downtown Jackson Partners
Cooling stations are located on the east and west sides of the festival site for you to enjoy.
Food Pavilion & Live Music
Presented by Volunteer Mississippi
Chill out in the shade while listening to The Sessions (11:00 am - 3:00 pm) and enjoying your food truck selections.
Food Trucks
Food trucks flank both sides of the festival site.
N. West Street
- ‘Sippsi Good Tea*
- Bee Bee’s Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
- Street Dough
- Small Time Hot Dogs & Street Eats*
- Sno Biz*
- Squigglers
- Green Ghost Tacos*
- Mando’s
- Jerk City Grille
- The Good Guys Mobile Kitchen
- Papa John’s Pizza*
N. Congress Street
- Grab'N'Go by Hal & Mal's
N. President Street
- Homegirl Beverage Company*
- Dad’s Dogs
- T&J Concessions*
- T&J Chill Factory*
- Lucy’s Lemonade
- Green Ghost Tacos*
- Skenny Burger
- Finally Vegan Macarons*
- Smokey’s Meal on Wheels
- The Frosty Flamingo Italian Ice*
*vegan options
Kids Tent
Presented by The Phil Hardin Foundation
- Join illustrator Kara Kramer at 10:00 am for storytime with her newest picture book, Ernö Rubik and His Magic Cube.
- Join illustrator and author Marshall Ramsey at 1:00 pm for storytime with his picture book, Saving Sam! A Banjo the Dog Story.
- Color your own 2025 Mississippi Book Festival art – available all day!
- Make your own friendship bracelets to give to your favorite authors and best pals – available all day!
Merchandise Tent
Shop our merchandise tent at the center of the festival for 2025 keepsakes!
Rosie Ferguson Gathings was selected to create this year’s festival art, “Well-Fed and Well-Read.” You’ll find it on posters and signed/numbered fine-art prints as well as comfy t-shirts and sweatshirts, roomy totes, and fun mugs.
MPB Kids Club
Presented by Mississippi Public Broadcasting
In the west wing of the Capitol ground floor, meet PBS’s Daniel Tiger for fun activities, giveaways, and educational resources.
Official Panels & Workshops
Lively discussions among Official Panelists are held throughout the day at these venues:
- State Capitol Building: C-SPAN / Old Supreme Court | Room 113 | 4th Floor House Corridor | 4th Floor Senate Corridor | Room 202 | Room 204
- Galloway United Methodist Church: Sanctuary | Reception | Fellowship Center | Tween Room
- First Baptist Church: Sanctuary
Pop-up Library
Presented by Mississippi Library Commission
Don’t miss the Mississippi Library Commission’s Pop-Up Library in the Capitol Cafe at the south entrance of the Capitol. Visitors can cool off, browse books by festival authors, play board games, and more!
Toot, Teach & Roll
Toot, Teach & Roll is a mobile learning lab bringing education and creativity directly to festival-goers through hands-on activities. Create your perfect reading companion at our "Book Buddies" stuffed animal station, capture memories in our photo and video booth, and enjoy other activities that make learning an adventure for children and adults alike.