Things to Do in Jackson in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
April Weather in Jackson
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is April Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + April lands in the sweet spot between March's last cool snaps and May's swampy heat, temperatures park in the upper 70s°F (mid-20s°C), letting you linger on Capitol Street without melting into the pavement.
- + Dogwood and azalea blooms peak. Neighborhoods like Belhaven and Fondren turn into Technicolor mazes of pink and white that locals still photograph even after decades here.
- + Hotel rates stay in shoulder-season territory, roughly 30% below summer music-festival increase. Yet every restaurant, museum, and brewery runs at full tilt.
- + Spring crawfish season hits stride. On Thursday nights the boil scent drifts from backyard burners clear to the Fairgrounds, and you can grab a five-pound tray at any decent seafood shack without lasting festival-length lines.
- − Pollen counts rocket in April, if oak or pine sets you off, yellow dust will coat windshields by 10 AM and you'll want antihistamines within reach at all times.
- − Afternoon thunderstorms flash and vanish, expect 20-minute cloudbursts around 3 PM that flood potholes and leave parking-lot exits impassable for thirty minutes.
- − UV sneaks up fast. The sun feels gentle until you notice you've burned after 45 minutes on the Old Capitol steps.
Best Activities in April
Top things to do during your visit
April mornings are crystal-clear and still cool enough to conquer the 8 km (5 mile) Cypress Swamp boardwalk without soaking your shirt. Redbud trees bloom along the roadside, and the low sun angle turns the loess bluffs amber at sunrise. Traffic stays light until May motorcycle season, so you'll often own the Trace between mile markers 90 and 105.
Pearl River water levels hold steady in April, and the cypress knees throw glassy reflections you won't see once summer algae blooms. It's the single month when you can paddle 5 km (3.1 miles) upstream and drift back without battling a brutal current or feeding every mosquito in Rankin County.
April evenings linger near 65°F (18°C), good for drifting between galleries like Fischer and Brownlee without sweating through your shirt. Food trucks queue outside Urban Foxes for seasonal strawberry-lavender pop-tarts, and the scent of smoked brisket drifts off Rooster's patio until 9 PM.
On Thursdays the museum stays open until 8 PM; humidity drops inside the 100,000-gallon aquarium room, and the snapping turtles wake up just after dusk. April is when the resident albino catfish rises, something summer visitors rarely witness because crowds push it back to the depths.
Mild April weather lets you walk the Medgar Evers home site and the Freedom Trail markers without hunting shade every ten minutes. The gravel paths haven't yet turned to dust, and interpretive ranger talks run twice daily now that school groups taper off after spring-break season.
April Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
First Thursday of every month, 5 PM, 9 PM. Galleries fling open their doors, local bands set up on porches, and food trucks line State Street. The mood feels neighborly rather than touristy, expect impromptu front-yard jam sessions and crawfish boils in pickup beds.
Pop-up author talks and book-signings spread across the downtown library district. April is the trial run for the August main festival, so crowds stay thin and you can chat with writers over coffee at Cups in the Quarter.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Book Experiences in Jackson
Top-rated things to do in Jackson this April
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Jackson.
See All Jackson Tours on Viator