Things to Do in Jackson in February
February weather, activities, events & insider tips
February Weather in Jackson
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is February Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + February finds that narrow band between Mississippi's biting winter and its sticky summer, mornings kick off at 44°F (7°C) but by afternoon you're basking at 66°F (19°C), good for wandering Jackson's outdoor murals and historic districts without dripping sweat.
- + Oyster season is peaking along the coast, so the raw bar at the 40-year-old Mayflower Cafe on Capitol Street dishes up Gulf oysters that were swimming yesterday morning.
- + In February the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum runs half-empty, claim the lunch-counter exhibit, sit down, and let Fannie Lou Hamer's speeches play without tour-group chatter drowning the audio.
- + Hotel rates fall 30-40% from spring festival highs, and parking reappears downtown, the State Street garage that gouges in April has open spaces in February.
- − Those 10 rainy days don't spread out evenly, February likes to unload in 30-minute afternoon bursts that ambush pedestrians, around Fondren where drainage is famously lousy.
- − Cold snaps can glaze sections of the Natchez Trace Parkway north of Jackson, shutting the scenic drives that photographers count on for afternoon light.
- − Several top food trucks shutter for February, the taco trucks that jam State Street in warmer weather vanish, leaving late-night hunger to brick-and-mortar kitchens.
Best Activities in February
Top things to do during your visit
Crisp February mornings set you up for tracing the blues highway from Jackson's recording studios to nearby juke joints. The B.B. King Museum in Indianola feels toastier in winter, and Highway 49's cratered pavement is easier to dodge before spring rain. Rent wheels and knock out three museums in one go, the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, the B.B. King Museum, and Jackson's Smith Robertson Museum inside the old African American school.
February's indoor weather turns gallery-hopping into a pleasure, the Mississippi Museum of Art stays warm and dry under its fluorescent glow, while First Thursday walks in Fondren pour wine at The Flamingo and unveil new shows at Pearl River Glass Studio. Winter architecture tours through Fondren's 1920s bungalows run with smaller crews, gifting cleaner shots of restored Craftsman homes.
February marks peak oyster harvest, drive 90 minutes south to Biloxi and taste oysters pulled that morning. Sheds along Highway 90 sling them raw with saltines and hot sauce, while casino buffets plate oyster po'boys that locals insist taste fattest in winter when the Gulf cools.
The 36-million-year-old petrified logs near Flora shine in February's low-angle light, morning rays strike the quartz crystals and ignite amber against the bare forest floor. The 3-mile (4.8 km) nature trail stays firm before spring mud arrives, and the visitor-center fireplace warms chilled hikers after strolling among stone trees.
Cool February air makes the civil-rights walking tour bearable, the 2-mile (3.2 km) loop from the Greyhound Bus Station to the Governor's Mansion won't drench you in humidity. Mississippi Freedom Trail markers recount Medgar Evers' assassination to James Meredith's Ole Miss enrollment, and winter's leaner groups let you hear the guide at the Woolworth's sit-in site.
February Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
The only marathon that ends at the Mississippi Blues Museum, with live bands every mile and a post-race concert that flips downtown into a block party.
Jackson's Scottish bash packs the Ag Museum with bagpipes, Highland games, and the city's top shepherd's-pie cook-off, indoors, mercifully, given February's mood swings.
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 February
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