The Band Perry is returning to the state where it all started, with the Grammy-winning duo scheduled to take the stage at the 2026 edition of the Mississippi Makers Fest.
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History announced Wednesday that the annual free outdoor celebration of music, food, and art will return to Jackson on Saturday, May 9. The event will once again happen in front of the Two Mississippi Museums, and after welcoming former “American Idol” finalist Colin Stough a year ago, this year’s talented lineup will be topped by another artist with strong Mississippi ties.
Siblings Kimberly, Reid, and Neil Perry were born in Jackson before their family relocated to Alabama during their childhood and later to Tennessee. The Perrys have publicly claimed Mississippi as their home state, even being honored by the state Senate for their local roots in 2012.
The Band Perry, which has since seen Reid and Neil depart, with Johnny Costello stepping in as a member, is known for hits like “If I Die Young,” “You Lie,” and “Stuck Like Glue.” In addition to multiple Grammy nominations and one win, they have been honored multiple times by the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
Taking the stage before The Band Perry will be local teenage blues prodigy John Clayton White, grunge country artist Sam Donald, Grammy-nominated blues musician Vasti Jackson, and singer-songwriter KIRBY.
Beyond the music, the Mississippi Makers Fest will include dozens of vendors and food trucks showcasing Mississippi-made art and tastes. There will be plenty of activities for the kids, as well.
“Makers Fest is more than a concert; it’s a showcase of Mississippi’s creativity,” a release from the MDAH reads. “Alongside the music, visitors can browse over 60 artisan booths and enjoy fresh, made-to-order dishes from local food trucks, all while asking in the vibrant atmosphere of this one-of-a-kind festival.”
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi is the title sponsor for this year’s festival. Other sponsors include AT&T, StateStreetGroup, Nissan, Mississippi Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, Capital City Beverages, Visit Jackson, Digio Strategies, Community Bank, Visit Mississippi, Lucid Ink, Cathead Distillery, and The Foundation for Mississippi History.
“Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi is proud to serve as the title sponsor of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s 2026 Mississippi Makers Fest in celebration of our state’s many diverse, emerging, and established artists,” BCBS of Mississippi communications director Cayla Mangrum said. “With a vast platform showcasing creativity with enriching experiences set in an exciting festival atmosphere, Makers Fest fosters social connections, artistic education, and civic price, and when Mississippi’s cultural heritage curators and artists thrive, we all do.”
The 2026 Mississippi Makers Fest will take place in the Entergy Mississippi Plaza in front of the Two Mississippi Museums on Saturday, May 9. Gates will open at 10 a.m. and music will start at 1 p.m. Blankets and one collapsible lawn chair per person are allowed.