Features

All Ways Black

In celebration of Black Literature, community engagement, and reading, join "All Ways Black" curator, Cree Myles, for an in-person “Drop Everything and Read” installation on the south lawn of the Capitol, all day.

Asylum Hill Project

The Asylum Hill Project is an initiative that encompasses the history and archaeology of the former Mississippi State Lunatic Asylum (1855-1935), and engages the descendants of those who were patients at the institution to better understand the history of mental health treatment in our state. See this remarkable presentation of intriguing and thoughtful research, throughout the day, on the south lawn of Capitol.

Authors Alley

More than 90 authors and artists are positioned to sell their most recent works in large tents along Mississippi Street and N. West Street, all day. 

Bearapy

Bearapy is Books, Bears, and Therapy — a hybrid company that uses books, bears, and therapy to teach social and emotional well-being. Think “Build-A-Bear,” but beyond the bear: with a mobile bear stuffing machine, a library of amazing stories, and a digital platform that can be used to support school-to-home connection. Find them on N. West Street, during the festival.

The History of the Book-of-the-Month Club

A pop-up exhibition tracing the origins of the Book-of-the-Month Club — and it’s lasting cultural impact on the literary and cultural tastes of future generations — can be found in the East Wing on the ground floor of the Capitol.

Booksellers Row

Independent booksellers are showcased at the center of the festival, directly across from the Book Signings Tent, along Mississippi Street and N. Congress Street, all day. 

  • Dogwood Press
  • Friendly City Books
  • Great American Publishers
  • Lemuria Books
  • Liberation's Publishing LLC
  • Livingston Press at the University of West Alabama
  • Lorelei Books
  • Luna Press
  • Magnolia Gazette Publishing Corp.
  • Mississippi Department of Archives and History
  • Mississippi Museum of Art
  • The Book Rack
  • Turnrow Book Co.
  • University Press of Mississippi

Capitol Showcase

See inspiring exhibits on the ground floor of the Capitol Building in the Rotunda, throughout the day.

  • University of Southern Mississippi Center for Digital Humanities
  • University of Southern Mississippi Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage
  • University of Southern Mississippi de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection

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.

Community Lawn

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!

  • Belhaven University
  • Big House Books
  • By Reading, We Can!
  • Decanterbury Tales: The Podcast
  • Eudora Welty House & Garden
  • First Presbyterian Church
  • Growing Up Knowing
  • Hinds Behavioral Health Services
  • Jackson/Hinds Library System
  • Margaret Walker Center
  • Mississippi Arts Commission
  • Mississippi Library Association
  • Mississippi State University
  • Mississippi Today
  • Mississippi Writers Guild
  • MS Lower Delta Partnership
  • Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration
  • New Orleans Writers Workshop
  • Operation Shoestring
  • Reading At the Park
  • Sisters in Crime - New Orleans, LA
  • Student Health Coalition of UMMC
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Visit Jackson
  • Visit Oxford
  • Wesley Biblical Seminary
  • WT3 Foundation

First Book

First Book provides access to award-winning books, educational resources, and basic necessities curated for kids in need. Each child, ages 0 - 18, gets a free book until supplies run out. Look for the First Book tent on the south lawn of the Capitol, during the festival.

Food Trucks

Local vendors have tasty foods for sale on N. West Street, all day! Claim a picnic spot on the lawn or in our shady food pavilion! 

  • 2 for 7 kitchen
  • Coffee Prose
  • Crooked Letter Kitchen
  • CrunchTime Concessions
  • Fortune's Kitchen
  • Green Ghost Tacos
  • J's Kettle Corn
  • Poppy Pies
  • Scoopdeedoo
  • Small Time Hot Dogs & Street Eats
  • SnoBiz
  • Street Dough
  • T&J Concessions
  • The Frosty Flamingo Italian Ice Cart
  • TTNB Snowcones

Food Pavilion & Live Music

Chill out in the shade to enjoy your food truck selections anytime and listen to a tune or two by The Sessions Band.

MPB Kids Club

The Mississippi Public Broadcasting Kids Club offers books, fun activities, and the chance to meet Molly of Denali from PBS Kids and Ed Said, the popular MPB character whose rhymes and raps educate youth about the importance of healthy eating. Find the MPB Kids Club on the ground floor of the Capitol, all day. Come for a visit and leave with fun memories and souvenirs.

Official Panels & Interviews

Lively discussions among Official Panelists and live interviews are held throughout the day at these venues: 

  • STATE CAPITOL BUILDING (Rooms 103, 113, 201A, 201H, 202, 204, plus the C-SPAN / Old Supreme Court Room)
  • GALLOWAY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (Sanctuary, Fellowship Center, Reception)

Pop-up Library

During the day, head over Capitol Room 202 to cool off, browse books by festival authors, and play board games.

  • Mississippi Library Commission’s Pop-Up Library, all day, second floor of Capitol

Rocky’s House

Rocky’s House — the traveling exhibit created by the Mississippi Children's Museum and the Barksdale Reading Institute — features Rocky the Reader and friends. As part of a state-wide advocacy campaign, “Talk From the Start,” Rocky helps children build language and literacy skills through playing, talking, and reading. Visitors to Rocky’s house, on the south lawn of the Capitol, can read books, ask questions, and create their own stories using puppets, all day.

Story Time in the Kids Tent

Reading is fun in the shade on the south lawn of the Capitol!

  • Join First Lady Elee Reeves, author of Mississippi’s Fred the Turtle, at 9:30 am for story time, with fun and activities to follow!
  • Meet educator and author of Coastal Mississippi Alphabet, Rebecca Giles, at 10:45 am or 11:30 am, then stay for more fun and interactive activities!

USM de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection

With original manuscripts and illustrations of more than 1,400 authors and illustrators, and more than 180,000 published books dating back to 1530, the de Grummond Collection at USM is full of wonders and surprises that are sure to please. Stop by their exhibit, in the Rotunda on the ground floor of the Capitol, for an awe-inspiring glimpse of genius on display. Available all day, this can’t-miss opportunity is for expert collectors and the child in all of us!

Wyatt Waters Live Painting 


Stop along the Capitol Mall, between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm, to watch artist Wyatt Waters capture the scene. Plus, take a chance on winning the painting for your own collection in our raffle. 

Ten bucks will get you one chance to win this one-of-a-kind piece valued at $1,800.00. Better yet, buy more tickets, increase your chances of winning, and support Mississippi Book Festival! Purchase your raffle ticket(s) here! The winner will be announced 5:00 pm, Sunday, August 21, 2022, via social media.