JXN Food & Wine Festival

Foodies'll be heading north the second they sniff out this new culinary festival in the heart of the up-and-coming food city of Jackson, Mississippi. This year, the festival kicks off on Friday with an exclusive dining experience at Jackson chef Nick Wallace's restaurant, The Hen & Egg. Saturday brings the full-force festival, featuring dozens of local and regional chefs offering small plates, samplings of wine, beer, spirits, and mocktails; a demo stage, and live music. Doors open at 6 pm, with early VIP arrival at 5 pm (which also includes an exclusive VIP area with hors d'oeuvres, an open bar, dedicated restrooms, and a celebrity chef meet and greet). A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Mississippi Restaurant Association Education Foundation. Tickets start at $90. jxnfoodandwine.com.