America’s 250th birthday party may be over, but the summer fun is just getting started in Mississippi. In fact, several local summer celebrations are slated for this weekend, offering multiple opportunities for fun, food, and fellowship. 

When the Fourth of July fireworks end, the next phase begins for retailers and fire officials: storing unsold inventory and promoting the safe disposal of leftover fireworks. 

People looking to try West African cuisine no longer have to leave the Pine Belt.

Jamba Jollof opened its first brick-and-mortar location in downtown Hattiesburg on Feb. 28 after previously operating as a home-based business. Following the closure of Afrishoppi Kitchen’s dine-in restaurant, Jamba Jollof is now Mississippi’s only brick-and-mortar West African restaurant.  

The University of Southern Mississippi graduate student Sebastien (Seb) Malbrough is spending his summer at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where he is helping researchers explore how food can be grown during future missions to the moon, Mars and beyond.

The fireworks have faded, the lawn chairs are folded, and the last sparkler has burned out. But if your Fourth of July was anything like ours, the celebration isn’t quite over. It’s sitting in your refrigerator, waiting for one more delicious meal.

Summertime Nature with Bored Kids – Nighttime Activities  

This is the second in this series of suggested activities for kids to do during summer, besides being glued to screens. In this case, nighttime is a great chance to entice them outdoors to listen and look for nature in the dark. Who knows, it may catch on!

Moss Point will soon commemorate its role in the civil rights movement through a memorial project led by the Mississippi Humanities Council.  

As Chickasawhay Hideaway marks its first anniversary, local leaders say the resort’s expansion and partnerships with neighboring attractions are helping grow tourism in Greene County. 

All JGRLS Libraries to Close for Independence Day Holiday Pascagoula, MS – The Jackson-George Regional Library System announces that all…

HATTIESBURG — Pearl River Valley Opportunity will host the Launch Your Future Expo on July 7 at the Jackie Dole Center, bringing together employers, colleges and community organizations to connect attendees with career, education and workforce resources. 

Hydration, Hydration, Hydration! That is the name of the game in the Mississippi summer. Not only are temperatures soaring, but the humidity has been cranked up a notch. Couple these things with spending more time outdoors both for yardwork and for recreation and that is a recipe for heat-related illness. Staying hydrated isn’t just about quenching your thirst. It is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay healthy all summer long. But don’t wait until you get thirsty. Hydrating early and often is a much more effective strategy when working or playing outdoors. 

ew drive-thru coffee will open a location at 1150 Evelyn Gandy Parkway in Petal in late August as part of the company’s expansion efforts, marking its 19th location in Mississippi. 

The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art will host George Ohr’s 169th Birthday Bash on Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 10 AM to 4 PM, with a free day of live music, art, family fun, and community celebration on the museum campus.

With a backpack on his shoulders, several phones in hand and thousands of thousands still ahead, Jack Kadis walked into Gautier on Thursday as part of his goal to walk the outline of the continental United States. 

The National Independence Day Parade takes place annually on July 4th in Washington, D.C., drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators. The massive patriotic event features invited marching bands, fife and drum corps, giant balloons, equestrian units, military displays, and celebrity participants, all celebrating America’s birthday. And this year, the Mississippi Christian University (MC) Marching Band has been selected as the only ensemble from Mississippi to perform.

If your family is anything like mine, the week before the Fourth of July is a busy one. Between tracking down sparklers, making grocery lists, and figuring out who is bringing what to the cookout, the holiday seems to sneak up every year.