2024 HOMECOMING FESTIVAL & HISTORY SYMPOSIUM

October 5-6, 2024 - In partnership with the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund (MZMF), the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation is pleased to present a two-day celebration of the life and musical legacy of Carroll County native, Mississippi John Hurt. This free event will take place at the former site of the Mississippi John Hurt Museum which was tragically burned to the ground on February 21, 2024, on County Road 109 in the Avalon community of Carroll County.

Mary Frances Hurt, Founder and President of the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation, will serve as the official event host and MZMF has secured the participation of Jock Webb Sr., a Blues artist and scholar from Birmingham, Alabama, as emcee for the event.

Unless otherwise noted, all events will be held on the festival grounds at County Road 109 in Avalon, Mississippi. Please visit How to Get Here for directions.

(The Mississippi John Hurt Foundation thanks the Joe Alper Photo Collection for donating the photo of John Hurt used for the event poster. Photograph by Joe Alper courtesy of the Joe Alper Photo Collection LLC. All rights reserved to Joe Alper Photo Collection LLC.)

If you would like to help support the 2024 Homecoming Festival & History Symposium, donations are accepted at PayPal.Me/MSJohnHurtFoundation. The Foundation thanks you for your kindness and for taking the opportunity to contribute to the legacy of Mississippi John Hurt.

This special weekend includes a Museum Ashes Memorial, a Blues Trail Marker reinstallation by the Mississippi Blues Commission, and a Memorial Walk to the historic St. James Cemetery where Mississippi John Hurt rests.

Other weekend highlights include presentations by scholars of African American history and a roundtable discussion with descendants of Blues artists such as Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson, Johnny Shines, Charlie Burse, and Eddie Cusic.

A much-anticipated screening of the award-winning documentary film, A Man Called Hurt: The Life and Music of Mississippi John Hurt, will also be part of this weekend's celebration.

Music will be at the center of this event with performances by Gabriel N. Akins, Rory Block, Andy Cohen, Howard Curry, Drew Fisher, Buck Hoffman, James "Super Chikan" Johnson, the Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo, Silas Reed IV, Dee Robinson, Rev. Samuel, and TJ Wheeler.

The following Schedule of Events is subject to change, so please check back often for updates!

Saturday, October 5th
10 AM - Museum Ashes Memorial led by Mary Frances Hurt (Event Host and Granddaughter of Mississippi John Hurt, Founder & President of the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation), Rev. Samuel, Bill Katz, and Dorothy Lewis (Gospel Singer)
10:30 AM - Reinstall & Rededicate Blues Trail Marker with Mississippi Blues Commission
11 AM - Concert featuring Buck Hoffman & Drew Fisher
Noon - Concert featuring Silas Reed IV
1 PM - Concert/Workshop (Why Blues-In-The-Schools) with TJ Wheeler (Blues Artist & Educator)
2 PM - Quilting & Healing Power of Art Therapy, Presentation of Quilt to MZMF Representing Black Freedom Struggle with Ravin Lovett (Artist, Art Therapist)
3 PM - Concert featuring Andrew Cohen & Dee Robinson
4 PM - Concert featuring the Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo
5 PM - Concert featuring Rory Block
6 PM - Blues Scholar Presentation with Dr. Brian Mitchell (Director of Research at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum)
7 PM - Documentary Film Screening - A Man Called Hurt: The Life and Music of Mississippi John Hurt

Sunday, October 6th
10 AM - Memorial Walk led by Mary Frances Hurt (Event Host and Granddaughter of Mississippi John Hurt, Founder & President of the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation), Rev. Samuel, and Dorothy Lewis (Gospel Singer)
Noon - Importance of African American Women in Historic Preservation with Dr. Tara White (Assistant Professor of Public History at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington)
1 PM - Descendant's Round Table moderated by Dr. Tara White with descendants: Cynthia Burse Wesson and Perdido Burse (Charlie Burse), Kechia Patton Brown (Charlie Patton), Carroline Shines (Johnny Shines), Tracy Cusic (Eddie Cusic), and Vera Johnson (Tommy Johnson)
2 PM - Concert featuring Gabriel N. Akins
3 PM - Concert featuring Rev. Samuel / Choir
4 PM - Open Mic led by Howard Curry
5 PM - Sunday Finale Concert featuring James "Super Chikan" Johnson

How to Get Here & Where to Stay
Visit Directions & Lodging for directions to the festival grounds. Attendees can enjoy a special $135/night rate at the Holiday Inn Express (401 Clements Street, Greenwood MS 38930) for October 4-6 by mentioning the "John Hurt Festival." This block of rooms is limited so make your reservation now!

The Mississippi John Hurt Foundation thanks its sponsors for supporting this event!