Jackson - Things to Do in Jackson in March

Things to Do in Jackson in March

March weather, activities, events & insider tips

Shoulder Season · Good Value

March Weather in Jackson

Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance

71°F (22°C) High Temp
50°F (10°C) Low Temp
2.0 inches (50.8 mm) Rainfall
70% Humidity

Is March Right for You?

Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking

Advantages
  • + Jackson's azalea trails erupt the second week of March at the State Capitol grounds, draping the Greek-Revival columns in a purple-pink corridor that locals frame for wedding announcements.
  • + Museum Row clears out once Mardi Gras season ends in February, letting you claim 45 minutes alone with a Rothko at the Mississippi Museum of Art instead of jostling through selfie crowds.
  • + The weather lands in the sweet spot for two-handed po-boys at Bully's, warm enough to eat outside yet cool enough that the fried catfish keeps its crunch instead of collapsing into steam.
  • + Spring baseball delivers the Mississippi Braves to Trustmark Park with 72°F (22°C) night games where aluminum bats crack against the Pearl River levee, minor-league closeness minus summer's sweat.
Considerations
  • March still carries Jackson's tornado tail-end, civil defense sirens test every first Saturday at noon, and real watches roll through 3-4 times a month.
  • Hotel rates leap during Dixie National Rodeo spillover weekends, when every belt buckle and cowboy hat from Vicksburg to Meridian crowds the Coliseum.
  • Pollen turns biblical, pine and oak lay down a yellow-green film across windshields and wake allergies locals never knew they owned.

Best Activities in March

Top things to do during your visit

Natchez Trace Parkway Cycling Tours

March nails the 100-km (62-mile) Trace ride, 55°F (13°C) at dawn, 70°F (21°C) by lunch, redbuds flanking the road and none of the summer humidity that stiffens jerseys with salt. The parkway's 50 mph (80 km/h) limit keeps drivers polite, and Rocky Springs ghost town shakes off winter before poison ivy takes over.

Booking Tip: Reserve bikes through outdoor outfitters 7-10 days ahead, March weekends sell out fast as cycling clubs roll in from Memphis and New Orleans. Hunt for operators supplying GPS routes and sag wagons.
Mississippi Blues Trail Photography Walks

Golden hour behaves differently in March, the low sun throws long shadows across crumbling juke joints on Farish Street where B.B. King earned his first paid gig. At 5:45 PM, rusted tin roofs glow like burnished copper while magnolia buds frame shots that summer's harsh noon would bleach white.

Booking Tip: Local photography guides gather at the Smith Robertson Museum, book 2-3 days ahead, lace up for 3 km (1.9 miles) of uneven sidewalks, and pack a lens cloth for the pollen dust that never quits.
Ross Barnett Reservoir Sailing Charters

March wind delivers steady 12-15 knot breezes across the 33,000-acre (13,355-hectare) reservoir, minus the summer storms that chase sailors to shore. Water holds at 65°F (18°C), cold enough to keep ski boats tied up, leaving sailboats with the lake to themselves.

Booking Tip: Weekday charters drop 40% in price and catch cleaner wind, book through licensed operators who hand out wetsuit tops for the morning bite. Check current choices in the booking section below.
Civil Rights History Walking Tours

March 25th is Medgar Evers' birthday, walking tours from his former home on Margaret Walker Alexander Drive hit harder when guided by voices who witnessed Jackson's shift from 1963 to now. The 3-mile (4.8 km) path passes the Greyhound station where Freedom Riders were hauled away, and morning slots dodge the 2 PM showers that strike 60% of March days.

Booking Tip: Tours kick off at 9 AM to beat both crowds and weather, the booking widget below lists licensed operators who throw in transport from downtown hotels.
Fondren District Food Tours

March sits at crawfish season's summit, Walker's Drive-In's patio tables pile with newspaper trays of spicy crawfish, corn, and potatoes while 68°F (20°C) evenings make outdoor seating comfortable. A 1.5-mile (2.4 km) loop links five restaurants without the summer heat that drives diners indoors.

Booking Tip: Book food tours 5-7 days ahead, ask for the 6 PM slot for peak weather, and wear shoes built for 3.5 hours of sidewalk grazing.

March Events & Festivals

What's happening during your visit

Mid March
Hal's St. Paddy's Parade and Festival

Jackson's biggest street party floods downtown with a green river of people, Jackson State marching bands, and floats flinging Moon Pies instead of beads. The State Street route rolls past the Sweet Potato Queens' float, drag queens who've served as unofficial mascots for 25 years.

Late March
Spring Pilgrimage in Natchez

Though 90 miles (145 km) south, Jackson folk treat this as their own, historic homes swing open for candlelight tours and azalea blooms form natural amphitheaters for porch concerts. Pre-Civil War grandeur contrasts sharply with Jackson's smaller antebellum houses.

Packing Checklist

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Essential Tips

Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid

Insider Knowledge
Locals bypass the famous Old Capitol Museum for the Governor's Mansion tour, call 48 hours ahead to book, then see authentic 19th-century furniture instead of replicas. The Iron Horse Grill hides a happy hour from 3-5 PM with $3 craft beers and live blues, musicians fuel up here before their night sets. Download the WLBT weather app, Jackson's meteorologists are local stars who sound tornado warnings 15 minutes ahead of national services. Ditch the rental car downtown. The Jackson Zoo parking lot hands out free weekend parking, and from there it's a relaxed 12-minute walk to the Blues Trail markers.
Avoid These Mistakes
Reserve hotels near the Coliseum during rodeo weekends only if you can sleep through cowboys whooping it up until 4 AM, because the sound rolls clean across the fairgrounds. Don't shrug off pollen season. Plenty of visitors who swear they've 'never had allergies' are queuing at CVS for Benadryl by day two. Don't even try to shoot downtown murals at noon. The overhead sun bleaches every color; instead, show up between 5:30-6:30 PM in March when the light turns liquid gold.

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Top-rated things to do in Jackson this March

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