National Folk Festival • Jackson MS • November 7-9, 2025

Jackson, Mississippi proudly hosts the 82nd National Folk Festival November 7-9, 2025, marking the first year of an unprecedented three-year residency in the heart of downtown.

Performers
Volunteer
Vendor Applications

Jackson, Mississippi proudly hosts the 82nd National Folk Festival November 7-9, 2025, marking the first year of an unprecedented three-year residency in the heart of downtown.

This free, three-day celebration brings together around 300 artists, musicians, dancers and storytellers for a weekend showcasing America's rich cultural traditions including blues, bluegrass, go-go music, and more. Selected from 42 cities nationwide, Jackson becomes the first Mississippi city to host this prestigious festival, welcoming an anticipated 60,000 to 80,000 visitors in its inaugural year.

Experience the magic where Mississippi's musical heritage meets America's diverse cultural tapestry in downtown Jackson's historic streets.

About the National Folk Festival


The National Folk Festival is America's longest-running celebration of the people, cultures, and living traditions that make our nation unique. Since 1934, this free, traveling festival has been a vibrant showcase where communities gather to share their stories through music, dance, food, and craft.

Coming to downtown Jackson November 7-9, 2025, the festival transforms the city into a living tapestry of American culture. Multiple stages will pulse with continuous performances from musicians, storytellers, dancers and more—the keepers of our collective memory who pass down everything from generations-old ballads to contemporary expressions of identity. Expect to hear the deep roots of blues and soul alongside the rhythmic power of hip hop and the heartfelt traditions of southern soul. The festival will also celebrate the rich HBCU culture that has shaped so much of America. You'll witness hands-on craft demonstrations, taste authentic regional and international cuisine, and experience the joy of storytelling that connect us all.

While Mississippi artists have graced the National Folk Festival stages for decades, this marks its first journey to the Deep South where so many of America's most powerful cultural traditions, from the delta blues to the marching bands of historically Black colleges and universities, were born and continue to flourish.

Scheduled to Perform


  • Bobby Rush, the "King of the Chitlin' Circuit," Mississippi's premier blues ambassador
  • Ms. Jody - captivating Southern Soul
  • Jackson State University's world-famous "Sonic Boom of the South" marching band
  • Oka Hamma Alla Hilha Alhiha - traditional Choctaw social dancing (Chahta Hihla)
  • Jeff Little Trio featuring Wayne Henderson's Blue Ridge mountain music
  • Tres en Punto's romantic trío music
  • Balla Kouyaté & Famoro Dioubaté - West African balafon
  • Frank London’s Klezmer Brass Allstars - raucous, earthy old-country klezmorim
  • Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys – zydeco
  • Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago – pungmul and samulnori
  • Lutchinha – Cabo Verdean singing
  • Wylie & the Wild West – cowboy and western music
  • The Campbell Brothers – sacred steel guitar
  • Dale Ann Bradley – bluegrass
  • E.U. featuring Sugar Bear – go-go
  • Eileen Ivers – Irish
  • John Primer & the Real Deal Blues Band – Chicago blues
  • LOS RICOS featuring Sonia & Ismael – flamenco
  • Plena Libre – bomba and plena
  • Riyaaz Qawwali – South Asian qawwali
  • Acme Miniature Flea Circus – flea circus
  • Chief Shaka Zulu – New Orleans Black masking craftsman and stilt dancer
  • Leaving Legacies – krump dance
  • Vasti Jackson - country and blues

STORIES OF THE NFF

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PRESS

GET INVOLVED

  • Over 800 volunteers needed for Backstage Support, Beverage Sales, Participant Transportation, Bucket Brigade, Merchandise and more
  • Average volunteer shifts are three to four hours, volunteers may sign up for multiple shifts
  • Volunteers receive a National Folk Festival volunteer t-shirt and service hours

Sign Up to Volunteer

VENDOR APPLICATIONS

FOOD VENDORS

Vendors specializing in Mississippi and Deep South cuisine, international flavors, snacks/desserts, "fair" foods, main dishes, and specialty beverages are needed.

Food Vendor Application

MARKTPLACE VENDORS

Priority is given to artists from Mississippi, featuring both traditional crafts and contemporary artists' expressions.

ART VENDOR APPLICATION

PARTNERS

National Council for the Traditional Arts, City of Jackson, Visit Jackson, Downtown Jackson Partners, Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, Community Foundation for Mississippi, Mississippi Arts Commission, Mississippi Humanities Council, Visit Mississippi, and National Park Service