The cities comprising the Inland Mississippi region impress attendees with everything from great food and music to unique off-site venues for receptions, sit-down meals and more.
From the state capital of Jackson to Vicksburg, home of action-packed casinos, as well as the university towns of Oxford and Meridian, the interior of the Magnolia State provides a wealth of intriguing options for meetings and events.
Following is a roundup of six venues that provide a good representation of what the region offers, including a world-class museum in Jackson, a chic rustic barn in Hattiesburg and a downtown pavilion in Greenwood.
Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson
The Mississippi Museum of Art, located downtown and conveniently situated next to the Jackson Convention Complex, offers various spaces for groups of five to 5,000 people.
“The space was thoughtfully designed to host a variety of events—from festivals in our 1.2-acre Art Garden to lavish galas held in the museum’s Trustmark Grand Hall,” said Shelley Yates, director of museum events and venue sales.
She added that groups can arrange to have the galleries open during an event, allowing attendees the opportunity to browse the museum’s impressive exhibits.
Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson
Exterior spaces, all professionally landscaped and maintained throughout the year, include the Garden Gallery, the museum’s newest outdoor space with a pedestrian pathway that connects the Westin Jackson to the museum’s gardens and main entrance.
Among the interior spaces are the Trustmark Grand Hall and Selby and Richard McRae Foyer, which when used together allow for a flexible reception and meeting space complete with audiovisual capabilities, and the BancorpSouth and Entergy Classrooms, which according to Yates are well suited for hands-on art experiences and corporate teambuilding.
“Our team of art educators will assist you with creating the perfect creative activity for your event,” she said. “We offer customizable experiences that include art-making, private tours, movie screenings, games, cooking classes, and dance and movement activities.”
The Barn at Bridlewood, Hattiesburg
The Barn at Bridlewood, constructed from an old timber-frame barn that was originally built in 1851 in Cooperstown, N.Y., was restored and re-erected in Hattiesburg.
Barn at Bridlewood, Hattiesburg
“Our space has lots of charm and character,” said owner Tori Banks.
Small and large groups can rent Bridlewood for any type of event, from luncheons to corporate galas. There is a full on-site kitchen for caterers to use and a stage for a band, DJ or presentation.
“We have a beautiful covered outdoor pavilion area that is great for cocktail hours, overflow seating, or it can be used as a lounge area,” Banks added.
The Venue, Meridian
Situated in historic downtown Meridian nearby the Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience, The Venue is located in the recently renovated Knights of Pythias Castle Hall, a circa-1907 Neoclassical Revival-style building.
According to lead coordinator Elic Purvis, The Venue books many different events, from holiday parties to business presentations, in its various rooms that accommodate 15 to 250 people. Additionally, The Venue works closely with local catering companies and third-party vendors when needed.
“With a chic, airy atmosphere, 16-foot-high windows in most rooms and views of the hustle-and-bustle of the heart of downtown, The Venue’s style makes any added decoration unnecessary,” he added. “Our Refectory boasts a subtle elegance without being too bold—it functions easily as the main draw of the space.”
For smaller engagements, the parlor works perfectly for hosting cocktail and mixing events for up to 35 people, and the lounge accommodates up to 100 in a private setting.
Rail Spike Park Pavilion, Greenwood
Located along the old C&G Railroad line is downtown Greenwood’s newest attraction, Rail Spike Park.
This linear park travels two miles and features a new farmers market pavilion at the intersection of Main Street that could also be used as a covered outdoor event space for groups of up to 150 people.
“The Rail Spike Park Pavilion would be a great spot for an outdoor cocktail mixer, music event or meal,” said Danielle Morgan, executive director for the Greenwood CVB. “The pavilion is simple and reflects the agrarian nature of the Mississippi Delta.”
She added that catering is available through several independent vendors. Interested groups can contact the Greenwood CVB to arrange a walking tour of its historic downtown from the park.
The Event Suite, Vicksburg
Vicksburg’s newest off-site venue, the two-story Event Suite, includes indoor and outdoor spaces for group gatherings in historic downtown.
“We are capable of holding corporate events such as parties, workshops, seminars, receptions and more,” said DJ Hill, the venue’s founder and event specialist.
“We will be equipped with projector screens as well, for presentations.”
The venue’s ground floor accommodates up to 250 people, and the second floor is a walkable roof that provides additional space.
“The first floor has a fountain and flowerbed in the center of the room,” Hill said. “The roof is open above the fountain, and when it rains it turns into a waterfall.”
The second floor, she added, overlooks the fountain, and there is also a deck off the back of the building as well as a full kitchen for catering.
Old Armory Pavilion, Oxford
Old Armory Pavilion, the site of the former National Guard Armory, is comprised of a large open-air pavilion with a peaked roof.
Old Armory Pavilion, Oxford
“Managed by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council [YAC], the Old Armory Pavilion provides space for a wide range of annual and special events,” said Wayne Andrews, director of YAC. “The large covered area with a rolling garage door provides a space that accommodates a large stage, or dinner tables and seating for 300.”
The Arts Council, he added, works with organizations to create experiences that capture the food and culture of the community.
Inland Mississippi CVB Contact Information
Greenwood CVB
662.453.9197
Visit Hattiesburg
601.296.7475
Visit Jackson
601.960.1891
Visit Meridian
601.482.8001
Visit Oxford
662.232.2477
Visit Vicksburg
601.636.9421
Click over to page 2 for a Planner's Perspective on Inland Mississippi and the latest hotel and venue openings.
PageBreak
Planner’s Perspective on Inland Mississippi
Susan Perry // Executive Director // Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) // Atlanta
Meetings Today (MT): Briefly state what your job entails.
Susan Perry (SP): As executive director of the SEMC, I am responsible for the vision, strategic partnerships, fundraising, programs and annual meeting for the nonprofit membership organization that serves museums and museum professionals in 12 states throughout the Southeast.
MT: What type of meeting did you hold in Jackson?
SP: SEMC had our annual meeting in October 2018 in Jackson for 650 museum professionals.
MT: Was anyone particularly helpful in executing your event?
SP: The Jackson museum community planned SEMC’s evening events, off-site workshops and tours. Directors Betsy Bradley with the Mississippi Museum of Art, Charles Knight with the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science and Lucy Allen with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) encouraged the full participation of their staff and museums as host sites for the conference. Christine Blackmon with Visit Jackson was also helpful. Elizabeth Coleman with MDAH recruited and coordinated over 70 volunteers, who welcomed attendees and helped with registration and transportation.
MT: Are there any group-friendly experiences you recommend for groups meeting there?
SP: Our attendees enjoyed visiting over 14 museums in Jackson, especially the newly opened Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum (aka Two Mississippi Museums). We had off-site tours and workshops at Two Mississippi Museums, Mississippi Museum of Art, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Smith Robertson Museum & Cultural Center, Margaret Walker Center, Eudora Welty House and Garden, Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum and Mississippi Children’s Museum.
MT: How does Jackson compare to other cities where you have hosted meetings?
SP: The Jackson museum community gave a friendly welcome to SEMC with educational programs, innovative exhibitions and fun evening events with delicious food and local music.
MT: Would you recommend Jackson to other meeting planners?
SP: If you want to experience and learn about Mississippi history, culture and art, Jackson is the place.
New Hotel and Venue Openings and Renovations in Inland Mississippi
Jackson
At press time, The Faulkner, an event venue, was scheduled to open in early 2019. The six-story building includes a 3,000-square-foot rooftop terrace and each floor has a distinct design. The fifth floor, for example, offers 2,500 square feet of event space with velvet drapery and gray hardwood floors. The first floor has a private entrance, a catering prep area, a built-in screen and projector, and microphones and speakers.
Trade Mart, a new $30 million multipurpose facility with 67,140 square feet of event and tradeshow space, is scheduled for completion in fall 2019. The new building will be connected to the Mississippi Coliseum, and including the connecting bay, will offer 100,000 square feet of space.
The Westin Jackson recently opened with 203 guest rooms and more than 11,000 square feet of meeting space.
Hattiesburg
Holiday Inn Hattiesburg North opened in October 2018 with more than 2,100 square feet of meeting space.
The 100-room Hotel Indigo Hattiesburg opened in June 2018 with one meeting room.
The DoubleTree by Hilton Hattiesburg, formerly a Holiday Inn & Suites, completed a renovation in July 2018, including updates to the lobby, meeting space and all 138 guest rooms.
Oxford
A Tru by Hilton property is opening in spring 2019 across the street from the Oxford Conference Center.
Vicksburg
The 117-room Margaritaville Hotel Vicksburg opened in June 2018 one block from the Vicksburg Convention Center.
