Annual Events

	Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant Third week of June, Carl Perkins Civic Center. Jackson has been home to the beauty pageant since 1953. The Tennessee Pageant awards more than $100,000 in scholarships each year, more than any other state. For more information: (731) 425-8590.
	Women's NAIA Basketball Championships Mid-March, Oman Arena One of the city's top tourist events each year. More than 40,000 people attend the week-long tournament.For more information: (731) 424-NAIA.
	West Tennessee State Fair Late summer, Jackson Fairgrounds Park. West Tennessee's annual tribute to a great American institution. The fair includes a midway, games, exhibits and pageants.For more information: (731) 424-0151.
	Shannon Street Blues & Heritage Festival First weekend in June, West Tennessee Farmer’s Market. This fundraiser for Jackson Downtown Development Corporation draws nearly 5,000 patrons into downtown to listen to great blues music. A barbecue cooking contest and 5K run are held in conjunction with the music festival.For more information: (731) 427-7573.
	West Tenn Diamond Jaxx AA Baseball, Seattle Mariners affiliate April to September, Pringles Park Each season consists of 70 home games, which feature special promotions such as fireworks, appearances by the team mascot and other family-oriented acts and events. Between-inning contests and promotions keep the fun flowing for all nine innings.For more information: (731) 988-JAXX.

Rockabilly Festival Early August, Carl Perkins Civic Center. The Rockabilly Fest features approximately 150 artists/bands each year, who provide about 32 hours of music during the weekend event. Attending celebrities include Ray Walker of the Jordaniares, Maria Elena Holly (wife of Buddy Holly), W.L. Stone, The Comets, Wanda Jackson, J.M. Van Eaton, Jerry Pllunk, Dick Richards, Ace Cannon, Narvel Felts, Sonny Burgess, Stan Perkins (son of Carl Perkins), D.J. Fontana, W.S. Holland, The Demplseys, Barbara Orbison, George Klein, Marty Stuart, For more information: (731) 427-8521.

Archeofest September, Pinson Mounds State Archeological Area, Pinson, Tenn. This annual free event celebrates the Native American heritage of the area. Arts and crafts demonstrated include Navajo loom weaving, flint-knapping, pottery, flute making, Indian basketry, quillwork, primitive firemaking and more. Activities include story-telling, dance performances, tools and weapons demonstration, artifact identification, birds of prey programs and haywagon tours. Pinson Mounds is a Middle Woodland Period Mound Complex that includes a museum, numerous Indian mounds, nature walks and group camping sites. It is open year-round.For more information: (731) 988-5614.

Taste of Jackson Late February or early March, Carl Perkins Civic Center. This annual fund-raiser allows Jackson area restaurants to offer tasty samples of their menus to hundreds of delighted grazers. All money raised goes to help prevent birth defects through the March of Dimes Foundation.For more information: (731) 668-1023.

Walk America A Sunday in April. Individuals and teams of friends or co-workers gather pledges to walk a 6.5-mile route through central Jackson. All money raised goes to help prevent birth defects through the March of Dimes Foundation.For more information: (731) 668-1023.

LANA (Lambuth Area Neighborhood Association) Holiday Fund-raiser December. Residents of the central Jackson neighborhood that surrounds Lambuth University have banded together to preserve the architectural and historic integrity of the area. This LANA fund-raiser features a Christmas season homes tour.For more information or reservations: (731) 422-6432.

LANA Flag Day Picnic and Celebration June 14, Lambuth University. Members of the Lambuth Area Neighborhood Association hold an annual community picnic.For more information: (731) 422-6432.

Blue Suede Spectacular Event & Auction Last Saturday in February, Carl Perkins Civic CenterThis annual event raises funds for the Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. The non-profit center serves children and their parents in a multi-county area. The fund-raiser takes its name from the signature song by the center's founder, Carl Perkins. Area merchants donate items for live and silent auctions. For more information: (731) 424-7900.

SkyFest Tennessee /October, McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport. Held every other year, this event is growing each time. Put on by Jackson Kiwanis Club, the event raises funds for the Jackson Kiwanis Foundation and Kiwanis Center for Child Development.For more information: (731) 660-1088.

Loving Lights December, Pugh Bourne Park in Oakfield. Families and groups compete to provide the most impressive Christmas-themed light display at this drive-through light show. Donations may be given to the West Tennessee Cerebral Palsy Center, which offers services for more than 200 children a year who experience motor impairment.For more information: (731) 668-3322.

Britton Lane Battle Reenactment Last weekend in September (every other year), Britton Lane Battlefield. Civil War buffs from across the country gather at Britton Lane Battlefield to recreate the battle fought there in 1862. The weekend includes a period church service, dances and other events.For information: (731) 668-7794.

Christmas in the City December, Downtown Jackson. The Christmas event includes a downtown tree lighting, a downtown run and other seasonal activities.For more information: (731) 427-7573.