Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce will host the inaugural Mississippi Mudbug Festival on Wednesday, April 7, through Sunday, April 11, at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds.
“I am excited to host the first-ever Mississippi Mudbug Festival right here in Jackson,” said Commissioner Gipson. “This event will include a large crawfish boil, musical performances and over 20 carnival rides. All events will take place across the 105-acre Fairgrounds complex, and I want to invite the public to come out with their families and enjoy some good, Southern-style crawfish at this open-air, outdoor event.”
The Festival will include live entertainment featuring Frank Foster, Doctor Zarr, Chad Wesley, Fordie Hays and J Edwards; a crawfish eating contest on Friday; and on Sunday, crawfish enthusiasts will vie for the ultimate title of Champion of the 2021 Battle of the Crawfish. Other attractions include food vendors and amusement rides provided by North American Midway Entertainment with daily ride specials; crawfish plates provided by The Back Porch restaurant; and beverages provided by Southern Beverage Company and Clark Beverage Group. General admission is free and parking is $5 per car.
“Many Jacksonians will remember the Fairgrounds as the location of crawfish boils in the past with many good memories from those events. Though the Mississippi Mudbug Festival will be different from those crawfish boils of the past, we hope this new tradition will generate the same kind of great memories for a new generation of children and adults,” said Commissioner Gipson.
Rides will open each day and prices are $1.50 per coupon, $25 for 22 coupons and $60 for 50 coupons. The public can also enjoy all rides for one low wristband price of $15 on Wednesday, April 7, and $25 on the remaining days. Advanced ride wristbands can be purchased online for $20 at here. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday’s musical performances can be purchased online here.
The Tails and Ales Courtyard will be open daily with crawfish and beverages available for purchase. Crawfish will be provided by The Back Porch and sold for $15 per plate. Entry to the Mudbug Music Area on Saturday, April 10, will be $20 online pre-sale and $25 the day of. Entry to the Mudbug Music Area on Sunday, April 11, will be $15 online pre-sale and $20 the day of.
Schedule of the Mississippi Mudbug Festival is as follows:
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
- 5:00 p.m. – Gates and Rides open – Free admission
- 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $15
- 5:00 p.m. – Crawfish and beverages will be available for purchase inside the Tails and Ales Courtyard.
- 10:00 p.m. – Gates close
Thursday, April 8, 2021
- 12:00 p.m. – Gates open – Free admission
- 2:00 p.m. – Rides open
- 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $25
- 2:00 p.m. – Crawfish and beverages will be available for purchase inside the Tails and Ales Courtyard
- 10:00 p.m. – Gates close
Friday, April 9, 2021
- 12:00 p.m. – Gates open – Free admission
- 2:00 p.m. – Rides open
- 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. – Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $25
- 2:00 p.m. – Crawfish and beverages will be available for purchase inside the Tails and Ales Courtyard
- 4:00 p.m. – Mudbug Music Area opens – Free admission
- 6:00 p.m. – J Edwards performance
- 8:00 p.m. – Fordie Hays performance
- 8:00 p.m. – Crawfish Eating Contest
- 11:00 p.m. – Gates close
Saturday, April 10, 2021
- 12:00 p.m. – Gates and Rides open – Free admission
- 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. – Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $25
- 2:00 p.m. – Mudbug Music Area opens – Entry will be $20 with presale ticket or $25 the day of
- 2:00 p.m. – House music/DJ will start
- 3:30 p.m. – Chad Wesley performance
- 5:30 p.m. – Chad Wesley performance
- 7:30 p.m. – Frank Foster performance
- 11:00 p.m. – Gates and Mudbug Music Area close
Sunday, April 11, 2021
- 12:00 p.m. – Gates and Rides open – Free admission
- 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $25
- 12:00 p.m. – Mudbug Music Area opens – Entry will be $15 with presale ticket or $20 the day of
- 1:00 p.m. – Doctor Zarr performance
- 1:00 p.m. – Battle of the Crawfish begins
- 7:00 p.m. – Mudbug Music Area closes
- 8:00 p.m. – Gates close
For more information about the Mississippi Mudbug Festival, visit www.MississippiFairgrounds.com online or follow the Mississippi State Fairgrounds page on Facebook.
