Plan Ahead

Make the very best of your day at the festival!

With so much to choose from at the Mississippi Book Festival, we strive to help you maximize your experience through good planning, great amenities, and convenient access. Indoors, we have air-conditioned panel discussion venues, loads of activities to select from, and ample time between. At the center of outdoor attractions on the shaded south lawn of the Capitol, you'll find the Book Signing tent, right across from Booksellers Row. There will also be lots of family-friendly activities, dining close by, and the Community Lawn filled with individual community organization tents. Surrounding streets will turn into a bustling marketplace of book sellers and food vendors. And, of course, there’s much more to explore in the capital city — Visit Jackson!

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 (covered driveway), where visitors receive a hand stamp good for the day
  • see GOOGLE MAP

NEARBY ACCOMMODATIONS

NEARBY DINING

  • Visit Jackson: where to dine during the festival — see options here.

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, at First Baptist Jackson, 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

HANDICAP ACCESS

  • handicap access to the Capitol Building is through the south security entrance (covered driveway)
  • a ground-level driveway encircles the Capitol Building and Capitol Security allow handicap drop-offs on the north side (High Street)
  • another low-grade, ground-level driveway wraps the Capitol Building from the north lawn (High Street) to the south lawn (Mississippi Street)
  • a ground-level sidewalk defines the edges of the State Capitol Grounds (High Street, West Street, Mississippi Street, N. President Street) and connects with ground-level driveways, as well as public streets
  • handicap access to Galloway Church venues (Sanctuary, Reception, Fellowship Center) is from Congress Street, through the courtyard between the sanctuary and the chapel
  • See FESTIVAL MAP

INFORMATION, VOLUNTEERS, & MERCHANDISE 

  • look for the Information tent at the center of the festival to pick up a festival guide
  • count on teal-blue-shirted volunteers throughout the site to help you navigate your day
  • buy your Mississippi Book Festival water bottles, t-shirts, posters, and exclusive stickers at the merchandise tent
  • bottled water is available at the merchandise tent and at some food trucks

MAXIMIZE YOUR DAY

To enjoy your day at the festival in and around the State Capitol building, plan ahead:

  • study the lineup of scheduled activities, panels and signings; the first discussion panels of the day begin at 9:30 a.m. with 15-minute breaks between panels; first book signings begin at 11:00 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