The hotels are full, the restaurants are full and Downtown Clarksdale will be full this weekend as the 2025 Juke Joint Festival gets underway.
On Saturday, Downtown will see 17 free daytime stages spread over eight blocks. As the sun goes down 26 local juke joints, blues clubs and restaurants will offer live music with over 30 acts, but a wristband is required.
While Juke Joint is billed as a one-day event, the fun actually started Wednesday with the Delta Blues Museum “Crossroads Connection” and ZZ Top’s Bill Gibbons on hand to play with the Delta Blues Museum Student Band. Thursday has the official 5 p.m. welcome at Red Panther Brewing Company. Friday will see musicians playing at various businesses downtown starting at 11 a.m. and lasting until 9 p.m.
And Saturday there will be monkeys riding dogs and racing pigs!
Vendors will set up tents with arts and crafts and everything from funnel cakes and barbecue to ice cream and cool drinks. Music workshops, children's events and church skits will also be offered downtown.
The music continues Sunday morning starting at 9 a.m. and going until 8 p.m.
Event organizers expect visitors from nearly every state in the U.S., the majority of counties in Mississippi and two-dozen countries.
The Rules
• Lawn chairs and umbrellas are welcome.
• Coolers are not allowed.
• Parking is not allowed downtown and streets will be blocked off. The festival will run a shuttle with routes posted. All cars must be moved from downtown by 2 a.m. Saturday and violators will be towed.
• Pets, horses and other animals are not allowed.
• Trashcans will be set up on all streets and corners and attendees are urged to use them or get “the white-eye.”
• This will be the second year for a curfew at 9 p.m. Saturday. No one under 18 will be permitted downtown without a parent or legal guardian.
Juke Joint Remembers
Juke Joint remembers its supporters who died since last year’s event they are: "Big Charles" Holmes (Red's Lounge), John Henshall (supporter), Ed Peacock (supporter), Pete Johnson (supporter), Pal Foster (supporter), Pat Thomas (musician), Chad Robinson (supporter) and others.
All of these friends helped make Juke Joint the international phenomenon it is today.
This is the 22nd annual Juke Joint Festival and it is hosted by the Clarksdale Downtown Development Association a 501c3 nonprofit. Details can be found at jukejointfestival.com
