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Opera Mississippi in Jackson is celebrating 80 years, highlighting Mississippi’s rich history of Opera. It is the state’s only professional opera company and the ninth-oldest continuously operating opera company in the U.S., dating back to its 1945 founding. For eight decades, Opera Mississippi has worked to produce accessible, high-quality Opera, musical theatre, and popular music experiences. Over the years, Opera Mississippi has featured notable national and international artists, including its latest executive director, John Christopher Adams from Fannin, Mississippi. 

Everybody knows Mississippi for the big ones—our blues roots in the Delta, the stately homes in Natchez, the seafood suppers on the Coast. And while those places are worth bragging about, there are some corners of this state that don’t make the headlines but will absolutely steal your heart. They’re the kind of spots you stumble on, tell your friends about, and then go back to because they stay with you.

In Mississippi, food is more than a necessity—it’s culture, memory, and connection all rolled into one. Whether it’s a family gathered around the Sunday dinner table, neighbors sharing a plate of fried catfish, or college students swapping stories over a late-night po-boy, our meals carry meaning. Few restaurants capture that spirit better than Oby’s, a Mississippi-grown favorite with a story that stretches from Pearl Harbor to Starkville.

Mississippi’s greatest treasures are her people. They always have been, and they always will be. No matter where a person travels within the borders of our state, I can guarantee that there will be some kind, hospitable Mississippians to greet and help that traveler along the way. Seriously, kindness and hospitality are absolutely part of our Mississippi DNA.

When people talk about the soundtrack of America, Mississippi is always playing in the background. The Magnolia State gave birth to the blues, nurtured gospel and soul, and shaped the rhythms of country and rock. You can’t talk about American music without talking about Mississippi.

For nearly a year, I lived in Goodman Mississippi without ever stepping foot inside the little brick building on Main Street. I’d drive past it, see the sign out front with some message about story time or a craft night, and think nothing of it. Downtown Goodman isn’t flashy. There’s a post office, one restaurant, town hall, and that library tucked into what used to be a Presbyterian church. Nothing about it seemed urgent enough to stop for.

Mississippi has always been known for its rich cultural heritage, its stories, and its people who turn everyday life into something extraordinary. Now, that legacy will take center stage on a national level as our state heads to Pasadena for the 137th Rose Parade on January 1, 2026. The theme? “Where Creativity Blooms.” And if there’s one thing Mississippi knows well, it’s creativity.

This week, as I sat down to write, I started out looking for an event to cover. There’s always something happening along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but I kept circling back to the thought that we don’t always have to wait for an event to get out and do something. One of the greatest gifts of living here is that our waters are always open—ready for us whenever we are.

Over the last couple of weeks, anyone who has stepped foot outdoors in Mississippi for more than a few moments has surely seen them: The hummingbirds are everywhere, and these beautiful creatures are busy, very busy.