Home away from home takes on a new meaning in “Home Seekers Paradise,” or Brookhaven, Mississippi. Just a couple hours’ drive from most Louisiana cities, Brookhaven has all the comforts of our own home state—delicious Gulf South cuisine, a thriving local festival scene, and unparalleled hospitality—with the luxuries and adventures of being “away”. Schedule your trip around these upcoming summer events to see the city at its best.
Fridays All Summer Long: Brookhaven Farmer’s Market
It’s been said that the best place to discover a town’s heart is at its farmer’s market. Starting May 30, Brookhaven’s takes place on Fridays at Railroad Park from 8 am–noon. The morning often brings out local musicians to perform on the Railroad Park stage—providing the perfect summer backdrop for local grocery shopping. Discover small-batch, artisan vendors and specialty farmers proffering everything from heirloom tomato seeds and hand-decorated cookies, to jams, medicinal salves, and sourdough. Get a preview of some of the participating businesses at the Brookhaven Farmers Market Facebook page.
Richard Temkin
Brookhaven Summer Concert Series
June 14 & July 19: Brookhaven Summer Concert Series
Held on the community stage in Railroad Park—where the Great Northern Railroad Company once stopped on its journey from New Orleans to Jackson, Tennessee—this annual summer tradition draws the entire community together to enjoy the best of the local music scene. Arrive early (around 6:30 pm) and bring a folding chair or picnic blanket, or go ahead and set up right on the porch of the neighborhood daiquiri shop. And if you really want to fit in, be sure to pack your dancing shoes. Catch the Mike Rob & The 601 Band, with their popular renditions of classic R&B, Funk, and Soul, on June 14. And on July 19, come back for Southern soul by Symone French & The Trouille Troop. These concerts are totally free to the public.
June 20: Girls Night Out
It’s the perfect excuse to get the girls trip beyond the group chat. Held in the heart of Brookhaven’s distinguished boutique mecca, this popular shopping experience has been going on for fourteen years now—getting bigger and better each time. There are over thirty locally-owned retail stores in Brookhaven, including oh-so-Southern boutiques like Expectations Too, Castles, and Beyond the Rainbow. Not to mention Brookhaven’s abundance of furniture and home décor shops, beckoning with inspiration for your next renovation. For $25, you can experience all this and more with the benefit of a coupon book—offering special discounts for the Girls Night Out event in addition to coupons good all throughout the summer. Your ticket also includes a $10 meal voucher, a t-shirt, and a tote bag. Shopping takes place from 10 am–9 pm. Buy tickets at https://visitbrookhavenms.com/event/girls-night-out-8/.
June 28: Brookstock Music Festival
Not many forty-year high school reunions go quite so well as to inspire a whole-town music festival for years to come—but so goes the legend of Brookhaven’s Brookstock Music Festival. When the ‘60s high school garage band, the Brutes, came together again—they sparked a tradition that has now evolved into a full-on annual musical gathering, which has been going on for 25 years now. This year, the mid-summer event will be held in the (air-conditioned) Brookhaven Building, and will spotlight local bands such as the Re-Juvenators, Bridge Band, and The Laughter of Ruin—featuring members of the festival’s originators, The Rooks.
“I’m one of the new guys in the festival,” said organizer Tyler Bridge. “And I’ve been playing for the last 20 years. A lot of the musicians are in their mid-70s, and they come rock out like their 18. It’s a night where, no matter how old you are, you can come and be a teenager again.”
August 1–2: Overbrook Songwriters Festival
Around a decade ago, Brookhaven musician and songwriter Shaw Furlow found inspiration at a songwriter festival in a major city miles away from home, and he wondered—“Why shouldn’t Brookhaven have this, too?” Since then, he has coordinated an intimate gathering of songwriters and performers in Brookhaven’s downtown each summer, setting up stages in venues around town for a progressive music experience. This year, in venues such as Magnolia Blues BBQ, Tortilla Soup, Betty’s Eat Shop, and more, you’ll find a lineup of regional musicians including Tricia Walker, Barry Chauvin, and Bill Romano. It all begins Friday night at the heartbeat of Brookhaven’s musical culture, Recess 101. Details and updates at the Overbrook Songwriters Festival Facebook Page.
Discover even more exciting events taking place this summer in Brookhaven at visitbrookhavenms.com.
