Jackson: Recreation
Sightseeing
As the capital of the Magnolia State, Jackson offers visitors several buildings of historical interest. The New Capitol, built in 1903 in the Beaux Arts style of architecture and patterned
On 100 acres in the heart of the city, the Jackson Zoological Park houses more than 300 birds, reptiles, and mammals representing 130 species from all over the world, as well as a children's petting zoo. At Mynelle Gardens, also known as Jackson's Botanical Gardens, more than a thousand varieties of plants are tended among several distinct gardens situated on seven acres. Battlefield Park is a memorial to Civil War battles fought there, with areas available for tennis and baseball. About 10 miles north of Jackson is the historic Natchez Trace Parkway, where a series of Indian paths became a post road. Mississippi Crafts Center, a showcase for folk arts, and pleasant picnic areas are located along the historic drive.
Arts and Culture
With pride in their southern hospitality and culture, Jacksonians have created facilities and assured an atmosphere where the arts flourish. Mississippi Arts Center includes Thalia Mara Hall, home of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and the Mississippi Museum of Art, with its vast permanent collections, regular monthly exhibits, and visiting shows. Next door, the Russell C. Davis Planetarium offers a variety of public shows and educational programs, including Sky Shows and Laser Light Concerts, designed to give students of all ages a better understanding of the universe and space exploration. In one of the largest theaters in the country, Cinema-360 completely surrounds the viewer.
The performing arts offer variety to Jackson residents and visitors. New Stage Theatre and the Community Children's Theatre stage live dramatic performances, as do local colleges and national touring companies. Ballet is hugely popular in Jackson. It is presented locally by Ballet Mississippi, which is affiliated with the Ballet Mississippi Youth Ballet and the Ballet Mississippi School. Every four years Jackson is proud to host the two-week USA International Ballet Competition. The Mississippi Opera, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Mississippi Academy of Ancient Music, Jackson Choral Society, and Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra Society offer a full calendar of live music to the region's audiences. Jackson-area nightspots feature music for every taste, including reggae, blues, Dixieland, country, jazz, and rock.
The region's museums provide a wide range of arts and artifacts for viewing. The Mississippi Museum of Art is the oldest and largest professional arts organization in the state, and holds a collection of more than 3,000 works. Old Capitol Museum, formerly the seat of state government, now exhibits Mississippi's state historical collections. Wildlife specimens, aquariums, and ecological exhibits are on display at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. The Municipal Art Gallery displays month-long exhibitions of works that are available for sale.
The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, spanning 40 acres, depicts the stories of men and women who made their living as farmers and woodsmen. African American culture and African American Mississippi history are featured in the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center. The International Museum of Muslim Cultures is devoted to contributions Muslims have made to the city of Jackson, the state, the nation, and the world. Other Jackson museums of note are the Oaks House Museum, which is the oldest house in the city; the Manship House Museum, a rare example of Gothic Revival architecture in Mississippi; and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, which features interactive exhibits and more than 500 televised interviews with famous Mississippi athletes.
Festivals and Holidays
Jackson hosts the nation's second largest parade in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This two-week celebration in January also features gospel music, a talent show, and live entertainment. Right on its heels is the Dixie National Livestock Show, Parade, and Rodeo; held over three weeks at the Mississippi Fairgrounds, the event also includes a three-day Western Festival, a rodeo dance, and two trade shows. March brings Mal's St. Paddy's Parade & Festival, featuring the local favorite and world-famous Sweet Potato Queens. Spring ushers in the Crossroads Film Festival, McB's Crawfish Festival, the Returning Powwow & Frontier Rodeo, and the Mississippi Cultural Festival, which celebrates the diversity of cultures in the state.
Jubilee! JAM, held in downtown Jackson each June, is a celebration of music, arts and crafts, and food. Several events celebrate our nation's independence each July, such as the Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum. September is the month for several cultural festivals, including Celtic Fest, the Farish Street Heritage Festival, and Festival Latino. Each October brings the huge Mississippi State Fair, a 12-day event that attracts nearly 550,000 visitors. Trustmark's Red Beans & Rice Celebration, featuring Southern-style food, music, and activities, is also held in the autumn, as are the Halloween Carnival and the Harvest Festival. Numerous musical and theatrical performances, a parade, and tours of architecturally significant buildings contribute to festive Christmas and Kwanzaa seasons.
Sports for the Spectator
Mississippi's only professional baseball team is the Jackson Senators, who play at Smith-Wills Stadium from May through August. College football is a local favorite; thousands of spectators turn out for the annual Capital City Classic between the Jackson State University Tigers and the Alcorn State University Braves, along with other contests, pageants, and events at Memorial Stadium. The National Cutting Horse Association event is held each March at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, with competition from amateur and professional riders. The Tour LeFleur Bike Race, a regional cycling event with multiple races throughout downtown Jackson, takes place the following month. The Southern Farm Bureau Golf Classic, Mississippi's only regular PGA tour event, is held over a week in late September.
Sports for the Participant
Taking advantage of its warm climate, many of Jackson's sports facilities emphasize outdoor life. With 54 lovely parks in the city park system, residents and visitors can enjoy facilities ranging from playground to primitive camping. Public and private golf courses, tennis and basketball courts, baseball and soccer fields, jogging and biking routes, nature trails, swimming pools, bowling and roller skating facilities, a go-cart track, and a model airplane field are all available in the area. Sports leagues suited to children include T-ball, baseball, football, and soccer.
An outdoor asset to Jackson, only 10 miles northeast of the city center, is the 33,000-acre Ross Barnett Reservoir, where water sports—boating, sailing, water skiing, swimming, and fishing—abound, with additional areas designated for camping and picnicking. LeFleur's Bluff State Park offers camping, fishing, picnic spots, hiking trails, and a 9-hole golf course situated on 305 acres.
Shopping and Dining
The central business district offers a variety of stores for shopping pleasure. Three major shopping malls are located in the city of Jackson. One of the largest is MetroCenter Mall, which houses more than 120 specialty stores in addition to its anchors of Dillard's, McRae's, and Sears. Numerous specialty shopping centers located outside of the major malls offer unique merchandise. Among these are the Chimneyville Crafts Gallery, specializing in crafts made by local artists, and two local outlets featuring the work of members of the Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi. More than 40 antique dealers operate in the Jackson area.
Dining opportunities in Jackson's 400 restaurants can suit every taste, from fast food or southern style cuisine, such as southern fried chicken, biscuits, and pecan pie, to fresh Gulf Coast seafood, including shrimp, oysters, and crab. International establishments in the Jackson area feature French, Continental, Greek, Oriental, and Mexican menus.
Visitor Information: Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau, 921 N. President St., Jackson, MS 39202; telephone (601)960-1891; toll-free 800-354-7695; fax (601)960-1827; email info@visitjackson.com