Jackson’s 601 Day Is Back Bigger Than Ever
Courtesy of Lindsay McMurtray | Visit Jackson
As summer approaches in Jackson, one celebration is quickly becoming a signature tradition for the city: 601 Day. What started as a one-day idea has grown into an entire weekend of music, movement, art, food and community pride designed to encourage residents to explore Jackson and celebrate the culture that makes the city unique.
Now entering its fourth year, 601 Day returns May 28 through June 1 with a packed lineup of events stretching across the city. Organized through a collaboration between Visit Jackson, local businesses and community organizations, the celebration continues to grow each year.
Kim Lewis of Visit Jackson shared that the concept first came together after conversations with local creative leaders who believed Jackson deserved its own area code celebration, similar to those in other major cities.
“If someone else is doing it, I guarantee we can do it, and we can probably do it better,” Lewis said.
That collaborative spirit still defines the weekend today. Original organizers included community leaders and creatives such as Philip Rollins of Offbeat, Stephen Brown of Briarwood Arts Center, Mary Sanders Ferris Cavicchi of Hal & Mal’s, Thabi Moyo and the Jackson Run Club team. Over time, the event has expanded to include skateboarders, roller derby athletes, artists, musicians and neighborhood organizations.
Courtesy of Lindsay McMurtray | Visit Jackson
This year’s celebration officially kicks off Thursday with Jackson Run Club packet pickup events and Philip Rollins’ “Needle Drop” music gathering. Friday’s lineup includes the popular “Out of Office” event, followed by a kickoff celebration at Cathead Distillery featuring DJs, food trucks and special $6.01 menu offerings.
Saturday morning brings one of the weekend’s largest attractions: the Jackson Run Club’s 5K and 8K races at Belhaven Town Center. Lewis said the event has exploded in popularity and now includes activations from major brands like Nike and Lululemon. Entries to this year’s event are almost sold out.
Also on Saturday, residents can explore the 601 Market at Union Station, where local vendors, creatives and food offerings will fill the downtown space. This year also introduces a partnership with the Mississippi Film Society, which plans to launch community film screenings during the event weekend at Union Market.
Sunday activities continue with Briarwood Arts Center’s Unity 5K and block party, while Offbeat hosts its large-scale 601 JXN Day celebration featuring skating exhibitions, live music, vendors and custom T-shirt pop-ups.
Monday, June 1 — the actual 601 Day — will feature a new mural unveiling before the celebration closes out at Hal & Mal’s with live entertainment, trivia, karaoke and more local specials.
But beyond the events themselves, Lewis believes 601 Day represents something larger for Jackson residents.
Courtesy of Lindsay McMurtray | Visit Jackson
The weekend encourages residents to venture outside their usual routines and experience different parts of the city together.
“I think it’s a perfect opportunity for them to do that,” Lewis said when discussing residents exploring neighborhoods beyond their own.
For longtime Jacksonians, newcomers and even former residents returning home for the summer, 601 Day offers something increasingly rare: a reason to slow down, gather together and rediscover the city through fresh eyes.
As 601 Day continues to grow, organizers hope the celebration becomes more than just a weekend of events. They want it to become a reflection of Jackson itself: creative, welcoming, resilient and deeply connected through community.
“We really want it to be something where everybody feels represented,” Lewis said.
Residents, neighborhood groups, small businesses and organizations can join the celebration by adding their own events to the official 601 Day schedule online. Whether it is a neighborhood gathering, live music set, community cookout, pop-up market or family-friendly activity, organizers encourage Jacksonians to help shape the weekend and showcase the city’s culture in their own way.
At its core, 601 Day is not just about attending events. It is about participation, exploring a new neighborhood, supporting local businesses, reconnecting with the community and celebrating the people who continue to pour into Jackson every day.
From May 28 through June 1, the city will once again become a living reminder that Jackson’s greatest attraction has always been its people. To view the full schedule or submit an event, visit Visit Jackson’s 601 Day dedicated page.