Music at the Dew Drop

In 1885, a group of civic-minded African American residents of Mandeville, headed up by a woman named Olivia Eunio, established the Dew Drop Social and Benevolent Association—which would be a community space of shared resources and neighborly care. Like many such places in the South, the physical headquarters of this organization came to be many things, a dancehall among them. Still standing today, the Dew Drop Jazz & Social Hall is considered the world's oldest virtually unaltered rural jazz dance hall, built the same year that traditional jazz was born in New Orleans. Today, the Friends of the Dew Drop continue to maintain the historic building and to host regular celebrations of rural Southern music, and especially jazz.

On six Saturdays this fall, the Dew Drop will welcome renowned locally and touring artists to its stage. Shows begin at 6:30 pm. $10; souvenirs and beverages available for purchase; plus home-cooked meals available from next door. dewdropjazzhall.com for the latest schedule.