Follow the Beat to Tupelo, Mississippi

Follow the Beat to Tupelo, Mississippi


Located in the foothills of Northeast Mississippi, Tupelo is the epicenter of America’s music, where, in 1935, the world’s greatest entertainer was born in a two-room shotgun shack. The gospel tunes he sang in his boyhood church, the soulful blues that he heard coming from the juke joints in the Shakerag district, and the country music that he listened to on the radio from his front porch, enabled Elvis Presley to blend the sounds and deliver what we all know as Rock ‘N’ Roll, to the masses. Visitors can immerse themselves in America’s musical heritage, by beginning their journey in a town called Tupelo.

The beat resounds in Tupelo’s many live music venues. In fact, visitors to the city where anything is possible can hear live music almost every night of the week. The BancorpSouth Arena plays host to national music acts in its 10,000-seat venue. The Blue Canoe is a local hot spot for eclectic bar food and boasts more beers on tap than anywhere else in Northeast Mississippi. Their live music line-up rivals many big city locales. On a summer night in Tupelo, there is no better place to be than the back porch at Steele’s Dive with cold beer and hot music.

Serving great food is part of our DNA in the South and Tupelo’s over 160 restaurants have delectable dining down pat. Toast another gorgeous sunset atop the roof at Park Heights overlooking Downtown Tupelo, where Chef Dan Schroeder’s haute cuisine is as beautiful as it is scrumptious. A Tupelo institution, Bar-B-Que by Jim is where the locals go for fresh-off-the-smoker pulled pork and all the fixings. Sweet Tea & Biscuits Café has two locations in Tupelo where the only thing sweeter than the tea is the array of mouthwatering, homemade desserts. Follow #tupelofoodie on social media to keep up with all things delicious and visit EAT at tupelo.net to explore all of Tupelo’s culinary offerings.

Tupelo’s newest culinary experience is literally one-of-a-kind. Mississippi’s first meadery, Queen’s Reward makes award-winning mead with a sip of southern hospitality. Tours and tastings are available at their tasting room in west Tupelo. With several different varieties, taste them all and take home a bottle of your favorite mead to remember your weekend trip to Tupelo.

Festival season in Tupelo culminates with a king-sized celebration each June during the Tupelo Elvis Festival. This year’s event is June 5-9 and includes free live music in Fairpark, the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist preliminary competition, living history demonstrations, and so much more. Fans from all over the world descend on the city to celebrate the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll’s influence on popular music still today. A highlight of the festival is Food Truck Friday at the Tupelo Visitors Center with live music and the best food truck fare from the city’s mobile eateries.

With so much to experience in Tupelo, visit tupelo.net to create your custom itinerary for a weekend away. The town that enabled Elvis to dream big still embodies that same contagious optimism that put him on a path to stardom, and today, it beckons visitors to imagine what you can do here!