Festivals

Find festivals that highlight the best of Starkville featuring live music, dancing, gardening, amazing food, local art, and more. Each year, thousands of visitors flock to our streets to experience one of our many festivals and major events.

Charles Templeton Ragtime Music Festival

Experience seminars, major performances, and miniconcerts by world-renowned ragtime musicians at the Templeton Ragtime Music Festival. Tours of the Templeton Music Museum, an extensive collection of sheet music, musical recordings, and mechanical music instruments, are given. Held at the Mitchell Memorial Library and Lee Hall Auditorium, Mississippi State University Campus, (662) 325-2559.

Cotton District Arts Festival and Taste of Starkville

Named one of the top 25 events by the Southeastern Tourism Society, this popular festival hosted by the Starkville Area Arts Council features a juried art exhibit, arts and crafts, live music, food from area restaurants, activities for children, a 5k run, a pet parade, and a plant show.

The festival is held each year in the Historic Cotton District.  Learn more.

Everything Garden Expo

The Everything Garden Expo is a celebration of the art of gardening, including seminars, lectures by expert horticulturalists, children’s programs, and exhibits by vendors of garden equipment and supplies. The event is hosted by the Oktibbeha County Master Gardeners and is held at the Mississippi Horse Park and Agricenter, 716 East Poorhouse Road, Starkville, (662) 324-3080.

International Fiesta

Experience the various cultures represented in Starkville’s diverse community at the International Fiesta. Taste the food, see the display of international flags along Main Street, join the dancing, watch the Cricket game, and be a part of this world party hosted by the World Neighbors Association and sponsored by the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center. Held on the Drill Field at the heart of the Mississippi State University campus, (662) 325-0787.

Magnolia Independent Film Festival

The Magnolia Independent Film Festival, affectionately known as The Mag, is Mississippi’s first and longest running film festival. The Mag is known for being an intimate, filmmaker-friendly festival that consistently brings unique, edgy, diverse and inspiring cinema to small-town Mississippi while also supporting home-grown filmmakers and storytellers.

The 24th edition of the festival will be a hybrid of a drive-in and virtual experience. The lineup ranges from drama to comedy and from narrative to documentary and includes work from all over the world. Tickets for both the drive-in and virtual portions are now on sale and can be purchased at themag2021.eventive.org.

Sturgis South Motorcycle Rally

Motorcycle enthusiasts from all across the United States flock to this weekend event packed with activities: a bike show and games, area rides and tours, and live music. Founded in 1997, the rally has now grown to include thousands of registered riders with 20-30,000 attendees. Held on MS Hwy 12 West, Downtown Sturgis, Mississippi, (662) 465-7970. Learn more about the rally.