Festival Home - FestivalSouth

Forrest General Presents

with support from Huntington Bank and the City of Hattiesburg

The Great American Playlist

Featuring the FestivalSouth Orchestra with Jay Dean, conductor and Robert St. John emcee

This electrifying night of music brings together a large powerhouse cast of professional performers, including internationally-known Mississippi artist Vasti Jackson and the FestivalSouth Orchestra. Premiering bold new symphonic arrangements, this concert reimagines America’s most iconic popular music with unforgettable energy, passion, and style. From blues and Motown to R&B, soul, rock, pop, and country, the sounds that built our nation’s soundtrack are reborn for full orchestra, singers, and more.

FestivalSouth 2026 Art Auction

Each year, FestivalSouth invites an artist to share their work and select a piece to become the commemorative artwork for the season. This year FestivalSouth has chosen Ellen Langford!

Ellen is a painter whose body of work is inspired by landscapes, chance meetings, and the South’s mighty cross-currents. She notices and captures the relationships between the land and its inhabitants – a child with his dog, a clothesline in the breeze, a figure with the landscape. To celebrate the 2026 season, Ellen created a beautiful painting entitled “To Hear a Story”.

A 32 x 40-inch horizontal canvas is now being auctioned with all proceeds supporting the arts and artists of FestivalSouth. The auction continues through June 27, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. CST. The winner will be announced at the FestivalFinale in the Saenger Theatre at 7 p.m. The winner need not be present to win.

Upcoming Events

Artie’s Adventures in Writing

Join us for a fun-filled creative adventure! In this workshop, published authors will guide young writers through the exciting process of building their very own story.

Presented with support from Forrest County, Lamar County, Landry, Kitchens, and Germany Architects, Coca-Cola, and Mississippi Tank Company

Printmaking Workshop by John Carvalho

Sold Out

The course will cover the basics of block printing using a tortilla press. Students will carve blocks and print a small edition of their own original design.

Presented with support from Forrest County and the Montague Fund for the Arts

West African Drumming Workshop

Join us for a joyful drum circle where kids come together to create music as one community. No experience is needed—just bring your energy and curiosity!

Presented with support from Forrest County, Lamar County, Landry, Kitchens, and Germany Architects, Coca-Cola, and Mississippi Tank Company

From Baroque to Broadway

Wake up to an eclectic program including Gabriell, Cervetto, Lalo, Piazzola, Piaf, Elvis, Roberta Flack, George Benson, and The Beatles!

Presented by Forrest County, with support from the City of Hattiesburg, Southern Miss College of Arts and Sciences, Southern Miss School of Music, Payne Companies, and VERB Architecture

Chigiri-e: Painting with Paper

This solo exhibition presents the artworks of Becky Fortenberry, highlighting her innovative chigiri-e collage process.

Presented in partnership with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, with support from Forrest County and the Montague Fund for the Arts

Fraction of Time

This exhibition showcases the two- and three-dimensional fine and functional art of clocks, plates, vases, and more, created by artists Steve Hurst and Byron Myrick.