If you’re craving a top-down, wind-in-your-hair kind of road trip this spring, set your sun-shaded sights on Ridgeland, Mississippi. Straddling the historic Natchez Trace on the banks of the Barnett Reservoir—known locally as “The Rez”—Ridgeland is celebrated across the Gulf South as a must-do destination for outdoor lovers. But biking, hiking, and boating aren't the only activities on the menu, here. The city’s growing food scene blends local flavors with global inspiration, and you’ll want to come hungry. For those eager to let their taste buds set the schedule, follow Explore Ridgeland’s recently launched Culinary Trail and plan ahead with the new Ridgeland Digital Passport program. Check in at participating restaurants to enjoy select menu items and earn prizes from the Ridgeland Visitors Center. Free and easy to use, Ridgeland's Digital Passports are the perfect tool for mapping out your own custom culinary adventure. If you’re looking to get outside and grab some good eats, take the scenic route to Ridgeland this spring. Let's goooo!
Run Like a Local, Eat Like a Local
1 of 3
Runners relish rolling central Mississippi trails during the annual Leap 4 the Lily Pad run.
2 of 3
Runners enjoying the annual Leap 4 the Lily Pad 5K run in Ridgeland, MS
3 of 3
Post-run refreshment at CW Organics Apothicaire and Tea Room
Spring brings loads of opportunities to make a weekend getaway to Ridgeland count. On April 11, Leap 4 the Lily Pad—one of central Mississippi’s best-loved community events—extends an invitation to experience Ridgeland’s vibrant running scene while supporting a vital local nonprofit. This year’s race, which takes place April 11 at the Methodist Rehabilitation Center Green Space, raises funds to benefit The Lily Pad Café, an institution that employs and trains individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, equipping them with the tools to find meaningful employment with local businesses. Wind down post-race with a traditional tea service at CW Organics Apothicaire & Tea Room. If you’re in need of something a bit more substantial, check out Lou’s Full Serv, where you can tuck into elevated, Southern-inspired dishes like brisket toast and crawfish fondue.
On April 11: Jazz-Fueled Fusion
1 of 3
The Township Jazz Festival brings a series of free, outdoor live music performances to the green space in front of Ridgeland's Fusion Coffeehouse.
2 of 3
Saxophone goes solo during the Township Jazz Festival
3 of 3
The Township Jazz Festival evolved out of a series of regular jazz performances hosted by Fusion Coffeehouse.
What’s a spring weekend in Mississippi without a little live music? While in town on April 11, plan to park yourself at the Township Jazz Festival when the 18th annual event takes over the green space in front of local landmark, Fusion Coffeehouse. The free, outdoor music festival evolved as a collaboration between Raphael Semmes—a mainstay of the Jackson metro music scene—and Tripp Douglas, who owns Fusion Coffeehouse. After the duo had been hosting live jazz sessions for a few years, crowds were overwhelming the cozy venue. The logical next move was for the concert series to step “outside the box.”
Eighteen years later, the Township Jazz Festival is still going strong. This year's headliner, Nestor Torres, will blow crowds away with the rhythmic and mellifluous flute sound that has won him a Latin Grammy Award and put him in a class all his own. Torres' 14 albums as a soloist, four Latin Grammy nominations, one Grammy nomination; and collaborations with diverse artists including Gloria Estefan, Kenny Loggins, Dave Mathews, Herbie Hancock, Tito Puente, Paquito D'Rivera and Arturo Sandoval, are testament to the journey of an artist who continues to accrue new fans and enrich the lives of all who experience his wild musical talent. To see the complete lineup and learn more, visit townshipjazzfestival.com
Sound Bites: The Township Jazz Festival’s central location off of Highland Colony Parkway puts you within easy strolling distance of great seasonal flavors. Around the corner at Anjou Restaurant, father-daughter culinary duo Christian Amelot and Ann Amelot-Holmes combine Southern favorites with French-inspired old-world flavors. Or for elevated seafood, try CAET in the nearby Renaissance at Colony Park shopping center, where award-winning chef Derek Emerson and his wife, Jennifer, welcome diners to relish their casually refined oyster bar experience, presented with a curated wine list and full, fresh dining menu.
More Delicious Detours
1 of 4
At CAET, award-winning Chef Derek Emerson plies diners with Gulf fresh seafood and one of Mississippi's most refined wine lists.
2 of 4
In late April, the Sante South Wine Festival brings chances to sample fine wines and dishes from some of the state's best restaurants to Central Mississippi
3 of 4
4 of 4
Craft cocktails at Taste Italian Kitchen
In late April, winemakers and oenophiles alike descend on the Mississippi capital (and Ridgeland’s neighbor), for the annual Sante South Food and Wine Festival (April 25, 2026). This wine and culinary showcase gives guests chances to meet and mingle with winemakers while sampling fine wines and dishes from many of Mississippi’s best restaurants. If you’re in town for the festival and looking to spread your wings a bit, a scenic jaunt down the Natchez Trace Parkway will deliver you to Ridgeland, where lunch at Local 463, or pre-festival bites at Taste Italian Kitchen are perennial favorites.
The Ride (and the Meal) of the Century
1 of 4
2 of 4
Riders ready to roll during the Natchez Trace Century Ride
3 of 4
Ready to roll out from the banks of the Rez for the Natchez Trace Century Ride
4 of 4
Some of the South's finest cycling is to be found along the shores of the Barnett Reservoir in Ridgeland, MS
Want to experience one of Ridgeland’s favorite pastimes? Then load up the bikes for the annual Natchez Trace Century Ride (May 2, 2026). The routes lead cyclists along scenic stretches of the historic Natchez Trace Parkway. With ride options of 8, 25, 50, 62, and 100 miles, the Natchez Trace Century Ride has become Mississippi’s most popular spring ride, accessible to cyclists of all ages and abilities. This year’s ride begins and ends in Ridgeland. Post-pedal, Ridgeland’s thriving food scene offers plenty of options to refuel and recharge. Grab a beer and a burger on the patio at Bulldog Burger Company, or have a side of fun with your fare at Dogmud Tavern, a local board game tavern. And, of course, while in the “Steak Capital of Mississippi,” do as the locals do and enjoy a prime cut from one of the beloved steakhouses along the Culinary Trail, such as Kathryn’s Steakhouse and Seafood Restaurant, Shapley’s Restaurant, or Tico’s Steakhouse.
Whether you’re visiting for the live music, the rolling trails, or the unforgettable flavors, Ridgeland serves up a spring getaway that’s as scenic as it is satisfying. Visit www.exploreridgeland.com/ to get started.
