History
FestivalSouth, the largest project of the Hattiesburg Concert Association (HCA), is an annual, multi-week festival presenting a variety of musical and other arts-related entertainment that aims to transcend social, cultural, and economic lines.
FestivalSouth is a multi-disciplinary arts celebration that primarily features exceptional performing and visual artists during the month of June in Hattiesburg, MS. Throughout the year, we try to provide events from each FestivalFamily of offerings and collaborative efforts bridging multiple genres.
FestivalMusic
FestivalMusic is FestivalSouth’s original series for concert-goers. From Classical to Jazz, Broadway to Blues and beyond, these events feature some of the greatest music and performers of all time. Our FestivalHeadliners, weeknight, and afternoon events bring world-class cultural experiences to the Pine Belt, making Hattiesburg the perfect cultural destination for local residents and tourists.
Artie Events for Families
Artie Events for Families are daytime educational events, created with special consideration of the specific learning styles of children, ages 2-12, and appeal to the entire family. They provide opportunities for participants to fully experience the arts through all senses, often with hands-on opportunities. Artie events help fulfill our mission by exposing our youth to the arts, encouraging an appreciation for the arts through education, and planting seeds for future arts enthusiasts.
FestivalArt
Showcasing artists from around the corner to around the world, FestivalSouth®, strives to provide access to both the artists and works of art through the creation of pieces and development of exhibitions to run during the festival.
FestivalDance
From world class dance events to free dance classes, FestivalSouth® is committed to the art of movement and showcasing different styles and genres of movements from around the world, presenting free and ticketed events for the whole family.
FestivalZ
FestivalZ Events for Teens are specifically designed for the independent and creative minds of the upcoming generation of young adults.
FestivalSpeaks
FestivalSpeaks is a series of informative and innovative lectures with special guest speakers who share experiences and inspire audiences with arts related topics.
FSFX
The FestivalSouth Film Expo (FSFX) is a showcase of juried high-quality, thought provoking, and entertaining shorts, feature-length, and documentary films. FSFX is presented during FestivalSouth as one of its cultural offerings. Presenting panel discussions and educational film-making classes, FSFX attracts film-makers and viewers from all over the world while demonstrating Mississippi’s progressive film scene.
FestivalSouth Youth Ambassadors
The FestivalSouth Youth Ambassadors consists of high school students who have applied and were selected to serve as the youth representatives of FestivalSouth. The mission of this program is to spark passion, knowledge, and skills in youth pertaining to the arts. It provides hands-on, educational experiences that develop an appreciation for the arts through volunteerism. The Ambassadors directly influence the social and economic impact of FestivalSouth on our community and plant seeds for a vibrant cultural presence in the future.
Best of the Pine Belt
The FestivalSouth Best of the Pine Belt competition showcases the area’s best and brightest with nationwide online voting. Nominations are sought in categories including everything from “Best Place to Take a First Date” to “Best Hamburger” and “Best Shoes” to “Best Volunteer.” With more than a half million unique votes each year, the winners list creates a guide to the Pine Belt’s favorite people, places and things.
Educational Institutes
Presented during FestivalSouth, the FestivalSouth Educational Institutes offer opportunities for increased inspiration and appreciation of the arts through educational settings. These multi-day, events serve students of all ages and invest in the future of Hattiesburg's cultural economy.
Festival5K
The Festival 5K partners with different organizations to create one of the area’s favorite events. From the inaugural Festival5k benefitting the Mississippi Make-a-Wish Foundation, to the more recent Dog Day 5K and 2-mile walk/run to benefit Hub City Service Dogs, this race promotes wellness in body and mind.
FestivalShares
FestivalShares, encourages our participants to give back their time, talents and wealth to our community by creating opportunities for partnerships that are mutually beneficial.