Tupelo rolls out the red carpet each spring with festivals and special events celebrating its unique culture. Whether music, food, the great outdoors, or the arts, Tupelo's festival season features something for everyone.

March ushers in festival season with the annual Don't Be Cruel BBQ Duel, Mississippi's state championship barbecue competition. Held March 18-20, the unmistakable aroma of barbecue fills the air for three days in Tupelo's Downtown Fairpark District, where cooking teams from across the country compete for the title of the region's best barbecue. This sixth annual event will feature a double KCBS sanctioned cooking competition, as well as live music, great food, kids' parade, and activities galore. For more information, visit www.tupelobbqduel.com.

Each April, Tupelo celebrates the legacy of its most famous native son during the Dancing With the King festival. The weekend event, held April 22-24, features professional and amateur dance competitions, a sock hop, and dance workshops, all to the music of Elvis Presley. For registration information or to learn more, visit www.dancingwiththeking.com.

May brings the classic cars to town with the Blue Suede Cruise. With over 800 antique and classic cars and trucks on display at the BancorpSouth Arena, an automotive swap meet, and live entertainment each night, Downtown Tupelo is the place to be May 6-8. Visit www.bluesc.com to learn more about this annual event.

Tupelo's juried arts festival held on the picturesque courthouse square, the 45th Annual Gumtree Festival will be held May 14-15. A weekend packed with visual and performing arts, it also features one of the state's largest 10K races. For more information on the festival, visit www.gumtreefestival.com.

Festival season culminates with the Tupelo Elvis Festival held the first full weekend each June. With live national musical acts paying homage to the King's music in Fairpark and the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Competition rocking the BancorpSouth Arena, the festival celebrates all things Elvis June 2-5 in Downtown Tupelo. To learn more, visit www.tupeloelvisfestival.com.  

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Founded in 1985, the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau's mission is to promote Tupelo as a viable site to visit in the State of Mississippi; to provide support for tourism-related projects; and to educate and assist the public regarding tourism development, which will result in increased tourism revenue and a positive image for the City of Tupelo.  Visit the Tupelo CVB at www.tupelo.net. Like us at www.facebook.com/MyTupelo,  follow us at www.twitter.com/MyTupelo, and follow us on Instagram as mytupelo.