Head into any downtown center throughout Inland Mississippi and find a rich blend of memorable landmarks and cultural attractions coupled with plush hotels and fine dining.
While these lively districts embrace their storied past, they are also ever-evolving to satisfy the requirements of groups in search of an ideal Southern destination.
Jackson
Downtown Jackson has transformed to the tune of over $700 million in development over the past 10 years, with another $160 million in upcoming projects either under way or on the horizon.
“What makes our downtown special is the big-city amenities with the small-town charm,” says Yolanda Clay-Moore, public relations manager for the Jackson CVB.
This mingling of amenities and charm is particularly apparent in downtown’s meetings portfolio, which features the Jackson Convention Complex (JCC) and a lineup of group-friendly hotels where attendees are greeted with Southern hospitality. Among those properties are Jackson Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn Jackson Downtown and Old Capitol Inn.
“Downtown Jackson is postured to meet the needs of your event with a variety of options for meeting space, including at the JCC, which is one of only 10 convention centers in the country that’s LEED-certified as a green facility,” Clay-Moore says. “Nearby arts and entertainment help complete a great meeting experience.”
One entertaining idea, and a terrific way to get acquainted with downtown, is to take a walking tour that showcases its history, arts and culture.
Stopping by the Old Capitol Museum, City Hall, the State Capitol and the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion allows attendees to learn about the city’s history before concluding the tour on an artistic note at the Mississippi Museum of Art, the state’s largest art museum with more than 4,000 works.
The museum is also a popular setting for receptions and banquets, with spaces for groups including an art garden and a grand hall.
Meridian
Downtown Meridian is continually evolving with the addition of new businesses as well as restoration investments.
According to Dede Mogollon, executive director at Visit Meridian, the MSU Riley Center, which was restored to its grand beauty in recent years, “is an outstanding example of history and technology.”
The former opera house has meeting facilities including a 5,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 2,500-square-foot studio space, various smaller meeting rooms and an ornate main theater that seats up to 950 people.
“Depending on the performance schedule, groups could book their conference at the MSU Riley Center and also attend a concert at the theater,” Mogollon says, adding the center also offers facility tours.
Also located downtown is the Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum, which Mogollon explains is an ongoing project to restore the Soule Steam Feed Works industrial site.
“This turn-of-the-century factory complex built steam engines and includes a blacksmith shop, foundry and belt-driven machine shop,” she says, adding the museum accommodates meetings and social functions.
Like a couple of its Inland Mississippi neighbors, Meridian’s downtown has an active Main Street program that Mogollon says is responsible for a number of activities that groups might check out, including the Earth’s Bounty Farmers Market, Mardi Gras celebrations and a concert series.
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Hattiesburg
“Historic Downtown Hattiesburg is where our city began,” says Kristen Brock, sales manager for Visit Hattiesburg. “Through the years it has evolved from a depot stop to a regional attraction complete with homegrown businesses set in some of the city’s most significant architectural gems.”
Indeed, downtown’s historic appeal is evident in its brick-lined streets and architectural landmarks—including Italianate, Classical Revival and Art Deco—that house the art galleries, shops and bistros that make the district so vibrant.
“For several years in the 1980s and 90s, this area was forgotten as many staple businesses left to set up shop in malls and large shopping centers,” Brock says. “But the streets are alive once again, as a downtown revitalization began in the late 1990s and continues today.”
Among downtown’s restored buildings that double as event space for keynotes, receptions and more, are the circa-1929 Saenger Theater, which still has its original Robert Morton pipe organ, the circa-1899 Oddfellows Gallery, which features three stories of high ceilings and original molding, and the Venue at the Bakery Building, which has its original exposed brick walls and rich wood floors.
Downtown Hattiesburg’s attractions include the nation’s only remaining USO Club, which was built specifically for African-American soldiers and today houses the African American Military History Museum.
“This complimentary addition to any group itinerary bears witness to the service and sacrifice of these soldiers and their acts of valor,” Brock says.
And if a toast to a productive meeting is in order, groups might hop into Southern Prohibition Brewing, which opened in 2013, for a tasting and a behind-the-scenes tour.
“They have become so popular that the SoPro Tap Room was recently added,” Brock says. “This funky space is ideal as a landing spot for groups to host receptions after a fascinating tour.”
Vicksburg
Vicksburg is home to what is now officially one of the country’s Top 10 Main Streets, as the National Main Street Association has named Vicksburg Main Street a semifinalist for the Great American Main Street Award.
“Our downtown has evolved drastically in the last five years,” says Kim Hopkins, director of the Vicksburg Main Street Program, explaining the district has added a variety of retail opportunities and restaurants. “Vicksburg also offers wonderful arts and entertainment in the downtown district that makes for a unique atmosphere.”
Block by block, there are intriguing attractions awaiting meeting attendees in downtown Vicksburg, including the Attic Gallery, the longest operating art gallery in Mississippi that showcases a stellar folk art collection, and the Strand Theatre.
“Ever had a comedian do teambuilding exercises on stage with your peers? It’s possible at the Strand,” Hopkins says, adding Vicksburg also has a trolley that a group could rent for a city tour with a knowledgeable guide.
Downtown Vicksburg also has a variety of meeting spaces, including the Vicksburg Convention Center, the Vicksburg City Auditorium and the Southern Cultural Heritage Center, which has a newly renovated auditorium that could accommodate banquets.
“The Bluff is an Art Deco-inspired space that offers a contemporary vibe,” Hopkins says. “Because of the uniqueness of downtown Vicksburg, a variety of boutique hotel rooms and corporate suites are available at the Warehouse, the Lofts at First National, the Valley and the Sears Building.”
Greenwood
Downtown Greenwood has been shaped throughout history--through its humble beginnings as a trade settlement, its impact on the world’s cotton market, its role in the Civil Rights movement and its revitalization with Viking Range Corp.--according to Brantley Snipes, executive director at Main Street Greenwood.
“Take a stroll throughout downtown Greenwood and be transported into the history of the community by following Main Street Greenwood’s downloadable historic walking tour brochure,” Snipes says. “Then be immersed in the nature of the Mississippi Delta along our Yazoo River nature trails, and finally, spend the evening learning a new cooking technique at the Viking Cooking School.”
If the group would rather simply order than whip up their own meal, Snipes recommends Delta Bistropub for specialty cocktails and shared hors d’oeuvres, including pickled onion hush puppies and fried alligator, and Lusco’s for steaks and pompano.
After hours might also be spent enjoying a wine-tasting at the Winery at Williams Landing, which features wines made from Mississippi crops, including fig, blueberry and muscadine.
“Or end your evening with an after-dinner cocktail on the courtyard of the Alluvian Hotel,” Snipes says.
The Alluvian Hotel, Historic Elks Lodge and the Yazoo River Trail & Arboretum, it’s worth noting, are downtown’s standout spaces for group events.
