There’s no question that Tupelo, Mississippi is an important city and a very exciting place for local events.  In 2010, the month of February saw theater and film star John Davidson (Hollywood Squares, 100,000 Dollar Pyramid) give a vocal and banjo performance at the Tupelo Civic Auditorium.

The month of April is always active in Tupelo.  There are events for children such as Story Time at the Lee County Library, and events for adults, such as Bingo For Seniors, at the same location.  The Sparkle and Twang Exhibit at the Tupelo Automobile Museum was a popular draw in the month of April, while the Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau presented Marty Stuart’s music memorabilia collection, a tribute show to music legends of the past.

There are other musical exhibits throughout the town including Rhythmn & Roots, a celebration of southern music located at the Oren Dunn City Museum.  The Lee County Library had a music presentation of its own.  Israeli musician, Amir Gwirtzman performed a free concert and used his instruments of choice in pipes, horns, and flutes.  The circus comes to Tupelo every year and Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus traditionally is held in the BancorpSouth Arena.

April sees a great month for tethered balloon rides.  At Veterans Park-East Tupelo, visitors can watch balloon races and enjoy a bite to eat.  The Presley Heights Azalea Festival and Tour doesn’t offer rides but does have plenty of arts and crafts to enjoy.  Last but not least, April brings along the Mansion 5K Run, which is held at the Mall at Barnes Crossing.

Every season numerous events come to Tupelo, Mississippi, and usually in the early to mid-spring season.  Some events are free while others are of low cost.  Make your plans to attend these live shows and enjoy the magic of the “All America City!”

Many traveling shows and local shows open in Tupelo, MS.  April and May seem to be active seasons for Tupelo.  What are some of the most popular events in town?  Dulcimer Day is held in the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center and is a free music show.  At this event, the North Mississippi Dulcimer Association teaches visitors all about the dulcimer, which was the first instrument created in the U.S.

Ballard Park has more action going on in May/April months including the Div. III Soccer District tournament.  The BancorpSouth Arena hosts the Region 8 Gymnastics Meet while volunteers come together at Veterans Park for an Annual Autism Awareness Walk.  Lovers of flowers and plant life will enjoy the Wildflower Walk, which is a walk through the prairie and forest area of Chickasaw Village.  This free adventure will fascinate nature lovers, though visitors are advised to bring comfy shoes!

The Celebrate Wildlife Weekend, which happens at the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center, is a free exhibition featuring live snake demonstrations, as well as an educational course by the Natural Resource Conservation Service.  This is a great attraction for children and nature lovers.

Cinema lovers will recall the good old days by attending a free drive in movie at the Tupelo Automobile Museum.  Coincidentally, this film will officially start the 2010 Tupelo Blue Suede Cruise.  This event is held at the BancorpSouth Arena and features classic cars and music from the 1950s and 1960s.

You will notice right away that many events in Tupelo are free of admission, or at least accessible with very low cost.  Most of the events are held in medium to large auditoriums such as the BancorpSouth Arena or even the Clarion/Summit Center.  Make your plans to do something fun in Tupelo!  There are plenty of live events just waiting around the corner!

What is Tupelo, MS like in the summer and pre-summer season?  There are a variety of activities here, many of which cater to certain ages and peoples.  For example, in May, youngsters can enjoy their monthly visit to the Lee County Library enjoy Story Time.  The library also hosts a Lunching With Books hour for local readers.  The Tupelo Automobile Museum offers a collection of car memorabilia of interest to all ages.

The NEMS Rose Society Rose Show is a free show found at the Downtown Renasant Bank Lobby area, while the All Shook Up concert charges full prices for its music.  The music is quite original though: it’s Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night featuring the sound of Elvis Presley!  If you have a heart for BBQ then you must visit the 37th Annual Tupelo Hog Roast in the pre-summer season.  The Tupelo VFW Hut is a charity-sponsoring event that features a variety of dishes: everything from crawfish, to BBQ chicken to red beans and rice to BBQ bologna.  The Tupelo Ballet will be performing at Lee County Courthouse Square in May.

Things don’t really heat up until the summer—both in temperature and in entertainment.  Summer 2010 brings Tupelo residents and visitors the Tupelo Elvis Festival in Downtown Tupelo as well as the Hill Country Baseball Tournament in Ballard Park.  Over at Veterans Park, sports fans can catch the Fling with the King Disc Golf Tournament, and people of all ages can admire a Corvette Summer at the Tupelo Automobile Museum.  The State Games of MS Open Tennis Championship happens at Rob Leake City Park.

As you can see, there are many sporting events and cultural events happening in the city.  The summer season is one of the busiest times for this All America City, so make your plans to see the sights and sounds of Tupelo in advance!

It might be too late to make plans for the first half of 2010 in Tupelo, Mississippi.  Don’t fret—you can still attend many of the same events in the second half of the year, from summer to fall to even early winter.  What are some of the regular events in the area that reappear on a monthly or quarterly basis?

Story Time at Lee County Library is always popular for children, as is Night Time Story Time in the same location.  Lunching With Books is a nice local attraction as it brings together many members of the community for book reviews and discussion.  The Cellular South Networking at Noon is a business brunch with guest speakers.  This is an excellent opportunity for networking.

When it comes to local sports, visitors can enjoy watching the ASA Men’s C Class Nationals Tournament in Eastwood and Veterans Softball Complex, as well as the ASA Men’s 45 and older national tournament in Veterans Park.  For music aficionados there is the Tupelo Concert Association show with Jim Witter (The Piano Men) held in the

Civic Auditorium during the fall season.  The Oren Dunn City Museum offers up the Tupelo Quilt Connection Exhibit in October and November.

Last but not least, there’s the Annual Holiday Exhibit at the Oren Dunn Museum.  This is held from late November to the end of the year.  The Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau can keep you up to date on all of the happenings for 2010.  Tupelo welcomes a variety of traveling acts (including musical concerts and the circus) and some quaint little shows that are usually free of charge.  Remember, this is the city that bore us Elvis Presley!  Long after the King’s death, the music and the culture of this city is still going strong.  Come experience it for yourself!