Mississippi
Can’t go to DC for the festival? Where to see cherry blossoms in Mississippi, the South
Cherry blossoms on full display
Vice President of Communications at Trust for the National Mall, Julie Moore, talks about the different ways you can view the cherry blossoms.
Peak cherry blossom season in the U.S. is almost here, and thousands of people will flock to Washington, D.C. for the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
If you can’t make the trip but still want to see these iconic pink and white spring blooms, there are places in Mississippi and across the South where you can spot them.
Did you know Mississippi has its own cherry blossom festival? Here’s what you need to know to go and where you, your family, can see the iconic flowers.
Why does Washington, D.C. have so many cherry trees?
The Yoshino Cherry trees were a gift from the mayor of Tokyo in 1912. The gift celebrates the friendship between the Japanese and American people.
They’re planted along the National Mall.
Can cherry trees grow in Mississippi?
Yes. According the Mississippi State University Extension Service, they’ll only grow in the northern part of the state. And its only the tarts varieties.
Want to skip the travel and have cherry blossoms at home? They recommend the Montmorency. It’s a red tart cherry that’s good for pies and canning.
Wild black cherry is native to Mississippi. Its blooms are white, and it often blooms from April to May.
Tupelo is has cherry blossoms. Keep an eye out for the pink and white flowers across the northern parts of the state.
Where is the cherry blossom festival in Mississippi?
The Northeast Mississippi Cherry Blossom Festival will be 2-5 p.m. Saturday, March 29 in Tupelo. The event at Ballard Park, 2629 W. Main St., will feature Japanese fashion, origami, rice pounding, brush writing.
There will also be live music and martial arts demonstrations.
Where else can I see cherry blossoms in the South?
Afar magazine lists 15 places to see cherry blossoms in the U.S., several of which are in the South:
- Carolyn Crayton Park in Macon, Georgia.
- Nashville Public Square Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden in Dallas, Texas.
When is the National Cherry Blossom Festival in 2025?
The National Cherry Blossom Festival will be March 20 through April 14. The annual event is held mainly around the Tidal Basin.
Multiple events are scheduled for the festival, including a parade, concerts and fireworks.
When is the peak bloom?
Peak bloom is defined as when 70% of the flowers will be open. It depends on weather but usually falls in the last week of March or the first week of April for the D.C. area. This year, the National Park Service expects it to be March 28-31.
How long does peak bloom last?
It can last a few days with good weather.
Wind and rain can cut it short, and a freeze could keep blooms from developing.
Live bloom camera in D.C.
If you can’t travel to see the cherry blossoms, you can view them live on the bloom camera. EarthCam gives a view of the National Mall Tidal Basin from the roof of the hotel Salamander Washington D.C.
See the short cherry blossom season
CONTRIBUTING Saman Shafiq
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – The Mississippi Miss Hospitality Program announced Saturday that contestants competing for the title in 2026 will be eligible for the organization’s largest scholarship offerings in its 77-year history.
Contestants will be eligible for more than $105,000 in scholarships and prizes, including $32,500 in direct cash scholarships.
The winner of the competition will receive a $10,000 cash scholarship, tuition scholarships, travel opportunities and a total prize package valued at $27,000. The first alternate will receive a cash scholarship of $6,000, the second will receive $3,500, the third will receive $2,500 and the fourth will receive $2,000.
During Saturday’s announcement, the Advisory Board of the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Program also revealed that the winning cash scholarship will be named for Bonnie Warren.
Warren has spent decades supporting tourism, hospitality and economic development efforts across Mississippi. She also helped move the Miss Hospitality Program from Starkville to Hattiesburg in 1998 and has remained one of its strongest advocates.
The theme for this year’s Miss Hospitality will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
The competition will take place July 17-18 in Hattiesburg. Tickets will go on sale in two weeks.
The Miss Hospitality Program was founded in 1949.
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Copyright 2026 WDAM. All rights reserved.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Taryne Mowatt-McKinney called Mississippi State softball’s first Women’s College World Series appearance back in the fall.
Coach Samantha Ricketts said the Bulldogs’ pitching coach walked into her office in October to deliver her bold prediction.
“She said, ‘If our pitching continues to progress the way it is, we’re going to the World Series,’” Ricketts said. “We may have looked at her like she may have been a little crazy.”
But Mowatt-McKinney wasn’t crazy, and the Bulldogs delivered, making it to the WCWS for the first time in program history.
That experience was short-lived as the Bulldogs (43-21) lost 4-0 to No. 2 seed Texas (48-12) in an elimination game at Devon Park on May 29, ending their season.
The Bulldogs went 0-2 in the WCWS and did not score a run.
“Could not be more proud of this group for what they’ve done for Mississippi State softball and for each other, the way they’ve represented this team, this program, our community,” Ricketts said. “… They believed that Mississippi State could be here on this stage when nobody else did.”
Ricketts noted the team never wavered in its belief even when things got difficult. Mississippi State went 9-15 in SEC play, finishing 10th in the conference. The Bulldogs only won two of their SEC series and fell out of hosting contention for regionals in late April.
As a road team, MSU made it out of the Eugene Regional to super regionals. The Bulldogs upset No. 3 seed Oklahoma on its home field to be the only unseeded team at this year’s WCWS.
“Really we talked all year long that our roster was built for May,” Ricketts said. “With how difficult our SEC schedule was, the lessons we learned along the way, we knew that postseason it’s 0-0 for anyone. If we could continue to trust in the work that we had done, we could really do something special here.”
The trip to the WCWS was especially meaningful for seniors Nadia Barbary, Morgan Bernardini and Kiarra Sells. All three began their careers in Starkville. They took the program from not even making the NCAA Tournament their freshman year to the WCWS in their final season.
“It meant the world to us,” Sells said. “Even getting here was such a big deal to all of us. Honestly, we’re grateful to have been on this stage, to have worked our butts off to be here, to be a Mississippi State Bulldog. It was such a blessing.”
The team’s accomplishments also resonated with players who started their careers at other schools. Pitcher Peja Goold, a transfer from Chattanooga, reflected positively on what she’d gained from this final year.
Goold finished with a 2.50 ERA, 182 strikeouts and eight shutouts. She was picked in the second round of the AUSL draft by the Oklahoma Sparks.
“I’m just so grateful that Mississippi State gave me the chance to be here and the opportunity to play on this stage,” she said. “… I chose Mississippi State, look where it brought me. That’s such a blessing and I’m so thankful that God placed me here and led me to them.”
During the team’s two WCWS games, not much went in the Bulldogs favor. They were shut out both times and run-ruled by Texas Tech in their first game. Still, the Bulldogs are walking out of Oklahoma City full of gratitude and pride for what they achieved in 2026.
“We did the unthinkable, making history throughout our whole season,” Bernardini said. “Yes, this sucks right now, but it’s like what a better way to end it at the end?”
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
High school choir sings gospel medley during graduation in Jackson MS
See video from Murrah Singers, Landon Price performance during Murrah High School graduation in Jackson, Mississippi.
High school graduation season has come to a close in Jackson, with Jackson Public Schools having finished their graduation ceremonies on May 27.
Madison County Schools held ceremonies May 15 and 16. Hinds County School District held its on May 19, and the Rankin County School District held ceremonies May 8 through May 18.
Following up on prom season, The Clarion Ledger photographed more than 25 ceremonies across the greater Jackson area, capturing both smiles and tears of joy, struts and dances across the stage, two new cars and many, many caps thrown in the air. Pyrotechnics, sunsets and excited family members brightened ceremonies and high school chorales lifted spirits.
Take a look at our gallery of highlights from every commencement, or peruse each ceremony, gathered below.
Hinds County
Callaway
Callaway High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 27.
Forest Hill High School
Forest Hill High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 27.
Jim Hill High School
Jim HIll High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 26.
Lanier High School
Lanier High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 27.
Murrah High School
Murrah High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 26.
Provine High School
Provine High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 26.
Raymond High School
Raymond High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 19.
Terry High School
Terry High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 19.
Madison County
Canton High School
Canton High School held graduation on its campus in Canton on May 23.
Germantown High School
Germantown High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 16.
Madison Central High School
Madison Central High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 16.
Ridgeland High School
Ridgeland High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 16.
Velma Jackson High School
Velma Jackson High School held graduation on its campus in Camden on May 15.
Rankin County
Brandon High School
Brandon High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 11.
Florence High School
Florence High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 8.
Northwest Rankin High School
Northwest Rankin High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 12.
Pelahatchie High School
Pelahatchie High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 15.
Pisgah High School
Pisgah High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 12.
Puckett High School
Puckett High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 11.
Richland High School
Richland High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 18.
Private Schools
Central Hinds Academy
Central Hinds Academy held graduation at Cain-Cochran Hall in Raymond on May 4.
Hartfield Academy
Hartfield Academy held graduation at Pinelake Church Reservoir Campus in Brandon on May 8.
Hillcrest Christian School
Hillcrest Christian School held graduation on its campus in Jackson on May 8.
Jackson Academy
Jackson Academy held graduation on its campus in Jackson on May 14.
Jackson Prep
Jackson Prep held graduation at First Baptist Jackson in Jackson on May 19.
Madison-Ridgeland Academy
Madison-Ridgeland Academy held graduation at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison on May 15.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School held graduation on its campus in Ridgeland on May 22.
Saint Joseph Catholic School
Saint Joseph Catholic School held graduation at Thalia Mara Hall in Jackson on May 20.
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