CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Each year The Chamber Music Festival kicks off in Vicksburg. Residents and visitors alike are treated to a week of concert series, featuring everything from Bach to popular jazz. The week long concert series is held in locations throughout the city, from historic homes to some of the city’s most beautiful chuches play host to this event.
CONVENTION CENTER
The Vicksburg Convention Center plays host to a multitude of music, art and cultural events throughout the year. Visit the Convention Center website for more information.
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION w/ THE MISSISSIPPI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Each year on the scenic riverfont, Vicksburg is fillied with music and treated to a display of lights and color to celebrate July 4th. For a calendar for these events visit the Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau’s website.
HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTS
Vicksburg, The Vicksburg National Military Park and several of the area’s historic homes play host to re-enactments and small celebrations throughout the year. For a calendar for these events visit the Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau’s website.
JACQUELINE HOUSE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
The collected artifacts, art archives, photography and audio/visual material Jacqueline House offers, takes you on a walk through African American history in Vicksburg and the “Old South”.
MISS MISSISSIPPI PAGEANT & PARADE
Vicksburg is the home of the “Miss Mississippi Pageant” . Pagent contestants gather each year to compete for the title of Miss Mississippi and the award of one of the largest pageant scholarships in the Miss America system. Visit the Miss Mississippi Pageant office online.
OLD CAIRO MUSEUM
In the late 1960s the U.S.S. Cairo was recovered from its watery grave. In 1972, the U.S. Congress enacted legislation authorizing the National Park Service to accept title to the Cairo and restore the gunboat for display in Vicksburg National Military Park. Delays in funding the project halted progress until June of 1977, when the vessel was transported to the park and reconstructed on a concrete foundation near the Vicksburg National Cemetery. For more information visit the U.S.S. Cairo’s website.
OLD COURT HOUSE MUSEUM
Founded by Eva Whitaker Davis in 1948, this historical museum, housed in Vicksburg’s Old Court House, reflects much of the past of the Vicksburg area. It features many artifacts, illustrations and documents. In 1843 Jefferson Davis launched his political career on the grounds. During the Civil War, wihle the city was under siege, Union prisoners were housed in this building. After Vicksburg fell, Gen. Grant raised the U.S. Flag and reviewed his tropps from this site. .For more information visit the Old Court House Museum’s website.
OVER THE RIVER RUN
This five mile run/walk across the historic Old Mississippi River Bridge takes place the first weekend every September. The Mississippi Track Club event is a Grand Prix Event and is the second largest race in Mississippi. The race concludes with live enteriainnment, refreshments and an awards ceremony.
SPRING & FALL PILGRIMAGES
Each Spring and Fall the historic homes and sites along the “Mighty Mississippi” open their doors to visitors and invite them to take a tour through the past.
RIVERFEST
This “block party” takes place downtown each year. Fun activities are held throughout the day for family members of all age, with everything from flea markets to clowns filling the streets of old Downton Vicksburg. In the evening the bands take the stage for 2 nights of entertainment on any three of the Riverfest main stages. Visit the Riverfest Website for more information.
RUN THROUGH HISTORY
The 10K road race takes place each year along the scenic roadways of the Vicksburg National Military Park. There is also a 5k walk and 1-mile fun run for children.
SOUTHERN CULTURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION
The Old St. Francis Xavier Convent and Academy consists of 5 buildings covering a whole city block. The buildings, dating from 1830 to 1957, are considered among the most architecturally and historically significant in Vicksburg. Once owned by the Sisters of Mercy, the complex is now a non-profit cultural center that plays host to art exhibits, summer workshops and special events.
VICKSBURG ART ASSOCIATION
The Vicksburg Art Association meets monthly from September through May on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM:an art-related program and/or speaker is usually featured. Throughout the year workshops in varied art disciplines are held. Competitive exhibtions of work by regional artists are hosted. Most of these events are held at the Old Constitution Firehouse Gallery. For more information visit the Art Association’s Website.
VICKSBURG MURAL PROJECT
On April 12, 2002, the City of Vicksburg unveiled its first riverfront mural by renowned artist Robert Dafford. The electricity of this project is quickly spreading across the South and up and down the Mississippi River. The panels of the Vicksburg floodwall are the canvas capturing the City of Vicksburg’s crucial past, present and future roles in American history, commerce, culture, religion, and technology. Visit the Mural Project’s website.
VICKSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK AND CEMETARY
Vicksburg National Military Park was established by Congress on February 21, 1899, to commemorate one of the most decisive battles of the American Civil War, the campaign, siege and defense of Vicksburg. For more information on the Vicksburg National Military Park visit their website.
VICKSBURG THEATRE GUILD
The oldest chartered community theatre in Mississippi, the Vicksburg Theatre Guild has offered live theatre for over 65 years, first on the original Playhouse stage on Bowmar Avenue and now at Parkside Playhouse .
The volunteers of the VTG strive to stimulate an interest in local, original, and other dramatic, literary and musical productions, to give the people of Vicksburg, Mississippi, the opportunity to self-expression in the various phases of dramatic activity, to present amateur productions, and to foster professional productions that possess dramatic and artistic merit, to furnish training in acting, stagecraft and playwriting, to provide facilities for the expression of art in the community, and generally to stimulate an interest in the drama.
Visit the Vicksburg Theatre Guild’s website for more information and show times.
