Plan Ahead
At every Mississippi Book Festival, we seek to make your experience more enjoyable, and this year is no exception. Indoors, we have air-conditioned panel discussion venues, loads of activities to choose from and ample time between. In the shade, you’ll find the Book Signing tent, Community Lawn, Kids Corner and Food Pavilion, while the streets are filled with tents, trucks, tables and carts for booksellers, authors and food vendors.
GETTING THERE
- from I-55 take Exit 96B onto High Street and travel west towards the State Capitol building
- entire festival site and its attractions are FREE and open to the public
- streets that are closed to traffic for the day include portions of Mississippi Street, N. West Street, and S. Congress Street
- panel discussions, activities and exhibits inside the State Capitol building are accessible via the south security entrance, where visitors receive a hand stamp good for the day
- see GOOGLE MAP
NEARBY ACCOMMODATIONS
FREE PARKING & SHUTTLE SERVICE
- entire event is handicap accessible with shuttle cart service from parking garages
- throughout the day shuttle carts circumnavigate the Capitol grounds (along Mississippi, N. West, High and President Streets), making frequent stops and always checking in at the information tent (See FESTIVAL MAP)
- free parking is available on public streets and in the garages of the Woolfolk and Walter Sillers Buildings
- access the parking garage of the Woolfolk Building from Lamar Street
- access the parking garage of the Walter Sillers Building from President Street
INFORMATION, VOLUNTEERS, MERCHANDISE & ATMs
- look for the Information tent at the center of the festival for your festival guide
- count on lime-shirted volunteers throughout the site to help you navigate your day
- buy your t-shirts and posters at the merchandise tent
- bottled water is available at the merchandise tent and at some food trucks
- ATMs on site; some food vendors require cash
MAXIMIZE YOUR DAY
To enjoy your day at the festival in and around the State Capitol building, plan ahead:
- study the line up of scheduled activities, panels and signings; the Festival Kick-Off is at 9:00 a.m.; the first discussion panels of the day begin at 9:30 a.m. with 15-minute breaks between panels; first book signings begin at 9:45 a.m.
- check out the festival site map to identify venue and activity locations
- prioritize your interests; arrive early as smaller venues tend to fill up quickly (first come, first served) and rooms are cleared after each panel in preparation for the next panel
- purchase books at the bookseller tents and see the book signings schedule to find your favorite author’s signing time
- stay hydrated; bottled water available at the merchandise tent in the center of the festival and at some food trucks
- see FESTIVAL MAP