The Department of Communications is responsible for managing and coordinating all internal and external messaging for the organization. It oversees public relations, marketing campaigns, branding, social media, website content, media relations, and internal communications. The department ensures that information is clear, consistent, and aligned with the organization’s mission and goals. By developing strategic messaging and maintaining a strong public presence, the Communications Department helps build trust, strengthen reputation, and effectively engage key audiences.
The Department of Communications is responsible for managing and coordinating all internal and external messaging for the organization. It oversees public relations, marketing campaigns, branding, social media, website content, media relations, and internal communications. The department ensures that information is clear, consistent, and aligned with the organization’s mission and goals. By developing strategic messaging and maintaining a strong public presence, the Communications Department helps build trust, strengthen reputation, and effectively engage key audiences.
The Department of Communications for the City of Jackson is committed to keeping residents informed about important city initiatives, events, and public service updates. Through the News section, citizens can stay up to date on major announcements from city leadership, infrastructure improvements, public safety updates, and community programs taking place across Jackson.
Our goal is to provide timely and accurate information that helps residents stay engaged with what is happening in their city. The Communications Department works closely with city departments to share updates on policies, projects, and services that impact daily life in Jackson. From road improvements to community events, this page serves as a central place for official city news.
The City of Jackson believes that strong communication builds stronger communities. By regularly publishing news releases, media updates, and event highlights, the Department of Communications aims to increase transparency and strengthen the connection between local government and the people it serves. Residents are encouraged to check back frequently for the latest updates and announcements.
First Performer Details Announced for 83rd National Folk Festival
In collaboration with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellows featured in the 2026 program
Jackson, MS — The National Folk Festival revealed today the first eight artists who will be performing at the 83rd National Folk Festival in Downtown Jackson, November 13-15, 2026. This will be the second year of the festival’s three-year residency in Jackson, and it occupies a momentous place in observances of the country’s 250th anniversary. The 83rd National Folk Festival is an official event of Mississippi’s America250 celebration.
“Hosting the National Folk Festival for a second year is a tremendous honor for Jackson,” said Mayor John Horhn. “This celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary, and of the artists who keep our stories alive, reflects the spirit, talent, and creativity that define our city.”
“There are no repeats at the National Folk festival, so audiences can expect an entirely new program at this year’s festival,” said Blaine Waide, executive director of the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA). “As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, the 83rd National Folk Festival will feature a special program honoring the best of the best in the traditional arts—from legendary blues, soul, and gospel performers with deep roots in Mississippi, to musicians and dancers that reflect the endless wellspring of artistic excellence and creativity from across the country. Best of all, it’s free!”
The festival is also participating this year in Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals, a series of programs and exchanges marking the U.S. Semiquincentennial and showcasing the country’s remarkable cultural landscape. The National Folk Festival and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival share a common mission to shine a light on the richness and variety of America’s cultural communities and promote awareness and appreciation across cultures. With programming support from the Smithsonian, this year’s festival will honor some of the country’s most acclaimed traditional artists. Numerous National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellows—the nation’s highest honor for folk and traditional artists—will be featured in the program.
Approximately 300 artists—musicians, dancers, storytellers, and craftspeople—will take part in the National Folk Festival, with more than 30 different musical groups performing on as many as six outdoor performance venues throughout Downtown Jackson. The eight artists announced today include:
Capoeira Luanda (Brazilian capoeira)
New York, New York
Led by the nation’s premier capoeira master, this ensemble will astound with their display of an Afro-Brazilian tradition that fuses dance, martial arts, and acrobatics.
Mestre Jelon Vieira, leader of Capoeira Luanda, received an NEA National Heritage Fellowship in 2008.
Eddie Cotton, Jr. (soul blues)
Clinton, Mississippi
This master of soul blues will move audiences, body and spirit, with blistering guitar work, stirring vocals, and a hard-driving style rooted in the church of his youth.
The Jerry Douglas Band (bluegrass)
Nashville, Tennessee
“Dobro’s matchless contemporary master,” the greatest innovator of the resonator guitar in the last half century—possibly the greatest ever.
Jerry Douglas received an NEA National Heritage Fellowship in 2004.
Mississippi Mass Choir (gospel)
Jackson, Mississippi
Featuring the finest voices in Mississippi churches, one of the country’s great gospel choirs is sure to bring audience members to their feet with its powerful, inspiring, and uplifting sound.
Rahzel (beatboxing)
New York, New York
Redefining the possibilities of the human voice, this one-time member of the Roots sparked a beatbox renaissance.
Raiatea Helm (Hawaiian falsetto singing)
Honolulu, Hawai’i
One of the preeminent female vocalists from Hawai’i keeping the flame for the islands’ distinctive falsetto singing tradition.
Rebolú (Colombian)
Queens, New York, and Tampa, Florida
The foremost Afro-Colombian ensemble in the United States plays the rich, rhythmic, and undeniably danceable music of Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
Rondalla Club of Los Angeles (Philippine rondalla)
Los Angeles, California
Arguably the most outstanding Philippine rondalla in the nation, this ensemble is at the forefront of performing and preserving this delightful stringed instrument tradition in the United States.
Tagumpay de Leon, or “Uncle Pi,” received an NEA National Heritage Fellowship in 2021.
Over 15 people of different backgrounds—and with a deep knowledge of music and art forms—came together from across Mississippi to serve as the local Festival Programming Advisory Committee. This committee’s role is to consider—and help the NCTA select—the artists who will perform at the National Folk Festival each year.
To learn more about these artists and their stories, please visit nationalfolkfestival.com/artists. The National Folk Festival will feature individual artists on its Facebook page (facebook.com/NFFJackson) and Instagram (instagram.com/NFFJackson) throughout the summer.
More performers will be announced as they are confirmed.
Performer assets may be downloaded here: bit.ly/NFFPressKit.
The National Folk Festival is a partnership of the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the City of Jackson, Jackson Redevelopment Authority, Visit Jackson, Downtown Jackson Partners, the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, the Mississippi Arts Commission, the Mississippi Humanities Council, Visit Mississippi, the Community Foundation for Mississippi, and the National Park Service. The festival is FREE to the public.
This project received funding from the Smithsonian’s “Our Shared Future: 250,” a Smithsonian-wide initiative supported by private philanthropy and created to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and advance the Smithsonian vision for the next 250 years.
Public Notice: Lindsey Drive Bridge Construction
The contractor mobilized on Lindsey Drive today and is scheduled to begin removing the existing bridge tomorrow. Residents and commuters should be aware that active construction is now underway.
We appreciate your patience as we work to improve our local infrastructure.
City of Jackson Fire Department Addresses Conduct Incident; Firefighters Placed on Administrative Leave
JACKSON, MS — The City of Jackson Fire Department is aware of reports regarding an incident involving on-duty firefighters that occurred over the weekend. The City acknowledges the seriousness of these allegations and is committed to full transparency.
Three on-duty Jackson firefighters visited a downtown Jackson establishment during their shift. The firefighters were subsequently dispatched to a fire at a blighted property. Afterward, law enforcement was called, sobriety testing was administered, and the firefighters were found to be in violation of departmental policy.
Fire Department Chief Rasean Thomas was immediately notified and took swift action. The firefighters involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an Internal Departmental Investigation.
“The conduct described in this incident is unacceptable and inconsistent with the standards we demand of every member of this department,” said Chief Rasean Thomas. “The safety of Jackson residents is our highest obligation, and any behavior that compromises that obligation will not be tolerated.”
Mayor John Horhn has been fully briefed on the matter and has made clear that this administration will not condone a culture of misconduct within any city department.
“We are taking this matter with the utmost seriousness,” said Mayor Horhn. “I have directed Chief Thomas to strengthen the department’s alcohol policy and institute more rigorous enforcement procedures to ensure an incident of this nature does not occur again.”
Chief Thomas has made it clear to the entire Department, that conduct such as this will not be tolerated.
Local Vendors Encouraged to Apply for National Folk Festival Marketplace
Jackson, MS — Local artisans, craftspeople, and specialty vendors are encouraged to apply for a spot in the Marketplace at the 83rd National Folk Festival, which returns to downtown Jackson November 13–15, 2026.
The Festival Marketplace features juried, handmade creations from artists and craftspeople, with priority given to Mississippi vendors. Organizers are especially seeking strong local participation as the early bird application deadline closes on April 10, and the final deadline is June 1.
Vendors selected for the Marketplace will be chosen based on artistry, distinctiveness, craftsmanship, traditionality when applicable, connection to state, regional or local traditions, relationship to their cultural or artistic community, and booth presentation.
The Marketplace will feature both traditional crafts and more contemporary artistic expressions. Eligible items include handmade artwork, jewelry, textiles, woodwork, pottery, folk and traditional crafts, and packaged made-in-Mississippi or Deep South food products. Commercial reproductions, manufactured items, kits, and molds are not permitted.
To support local participation, the Mississippi Arts Commission offers Mini-Grants for Individual Artists, providing $500 in funding to help offset the costs of professional development and participation in events like the National Folk Festival Marketplace. The application window for these grants is May 1 – June 1.
These funds can help make participation more accessible by covering expenses such as:
· Booth fees (Marketplace booths are approximately $350 for the weekend)
· Application fees (including the $35 non-refundable fee if accepted)
· Lodging and mileage to attend the festival
· Promotional materials such as custom tablecloths, business cards, labels, and packaging
Applicants are encouraged to review the Marketplace Vendor Guidelines before applying. Additional information and application details are available at:
https://www.nationalfolkfestival.com/marketplace-vendor-guidelines
Applications for both the NFF Vendor Marketplace and Mississippi Arts Commission Individual Artist Mini-Grants are available at:
www.arts.ms.gov/apply
For local vendors interested in sharing their work with thousands of festivalgoers, now is the time to apply.
The Communications Department serves as the primary point of contact for members of the media and the public seeking official information from the City. This section provides media contact information for press inquiries, access to the city’s press release archive, and guidelines for requesting interviews or filming on city property. Journalists and media representatives can use this page to find the appropriate contacts, review official announcements, and learn the procedures for coordinating interviews with city officials or staff. Guidance for photography, video recording, and news coverage requests is also provided to help ensure an organized and timely response.
