April is Golf Month throughout the state of Mississippi.  Golf courses all over the state are opening their doors and encouraging people to come and enjoy a round on the links by offering special deals and giveaways all through the month.  So grab your clubs and head to your local course, or take a day trip across the state to one you’ve never played and start working on your swing!  If you don’t have time to play 18 holes, then some other ideas could be to schedule lessons or just head out to the driving range for half an hour.  Golf is a great sport to share with the whole family or one you can play by yourself and unwind from a week at the office.

Golf in Mississippi is divided into five regions throughout the state:

The Hills Region- Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the northeastern corner of the state, it has the highest elevation of any of the regions.

The Delta Region- Defined by its wide open of cotton, it’s remarkably flat and contains some of the most fertile soil in the country, as evidenced by the plush, green fairways and greens.

The Capital/River Region- This region is a large mix of glaring contrasts, from wide-open flatlands, to water-laden fairways and rolling terrain with large undulating greens. 

The Pines Region- A soothing blend of rolling countryside, towering hardwoods and trickling streams.  This region also contains three of the highest rated courses in the state (Old Waverly and the two courses at Dancing Rabbit).

The Costal Region- Offering a wide variety of trees, marshes, lakes and winding streams combined with gently rolling hills, The Coastal Region plays host to several hundred amateur golfers at the International Golf & Blues Experience annually.

For more information on Mississippi’s award winning golf courses, visit our website’s golf page, here.

It’s History Month in Mississippi, and the state’s 13 Welcome Centers are offering travelers a glimpse into the True South’s history and heritage with special programs throughout the month of February.  

Today, the DeSoto County Welcome Center hosted Black History Day and treated visitors to a unique combination of fun and history. The program featured down-home cooking, quilt demonstrations, praise dancing, door prizes and live entertainment from local performer, Stephanie Norvell. Representatives from the DeSoto County Tourism office were also on hand to help with the activities. Throughout the month, the site will also present door prize drawings, map displays of nearby historical sites and video footage on the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi. All activities will feature community members to give visitors an authentic slice of Mississippi history.

In Alcorn County, the Welcome Center will host African American art displays and poetry readings during February. The Woodville Hospitality Station is offering “Free for All” History passes to local historical sites.

Each Welcome Center is celebrating History Month with its own special programs and displays. In addition, free coffee, clean restrooms, maps, brochures, hotel reservation assistance and friendly, knowledgeable staff are available every day to help you discover your True South. Stop by and experience genuine southern hospitality!

Want to know about the Welcome Centers? Go to http://www.visitmississippi.org/welcome-centers.aspx.

On Saturday, January 28, 2012, “Appetite for Jackson” kicks off from 2-9 p.m., in The Art Garden at the Mississippi Museum of Art. The inaugural food festival celebrates the City of Jackson and its cultural and culinary excellence.

The event will feature live music and showcase an array of local restaurants and their culinary delights, including Parlor Market, Underground 119, Peaches, Lumpkins Barbeque, the King Edward Grill, The Palette Café by Viking and many more. Live music from local bands will rock out The Art Garden throughout the day. Admission is free; food plates from participating restaurants are available for $5. Craft beer will be available for sale from Capital City Beverages.

The Travel Channel’s show, “Appetite For Life,” will feature the festival on an upcoming episode. The show’s host, Andrew Zimmern, will be appearing at the festival and at various VIP events.

Event sponsors include: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi, Mississippi Museum of Art, Downtown Jackson Partners, WLBT, Underground 119, Metro Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau and Cathead Vodka.

For more information on this event, visit the official website, become a fan on Facebook or follow the event on Twitter.

Make your way to Natchez this weekend for the annual Great Mississippi River Balloon Race, October 14-16! Known as Mississippi’s most exciting hot air balloon race weekend, this year’s event features two balloon flights each day, weather permitting and kicks off with a Balloon Glow and fireworks on Friday night! Pilots compete as they fly over the cities of Natchez, Vidalia, and the mighty Mississippi River. The festivities continue all weekend long with a stage full of chart topping musicians including Tonic, Randy Houser, Ingram Hill, Guitar Shorty, Brint Anderson's The Cosimo Effect, The Last Waltz Ensemble, Honey Island Swamp Band and Mark Adam Miller!

The festival itself takes place on the grounds of Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens, On Broadway Street in historic downtown Natchez. Here’s what to expect: (All times are approximate.)

Friday, October 14, 2011
 - 7:00 a.m. - Media Balloon Flight* sponsored by American Medical Response and Community Coffee
 - 6:00 p.m. - Gates open for the Bicentennial Gardens Balloon Glow 
 - 7:00 p.m. - Fireworks sponsored by The City of Natchez and The City of Vidalia
 - 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. - Live Music by The Cosimo Effect

Saturday, October 15, 2011
 - 7:00 a.m. - Morning Balloon flight* sponsored by American Medical Response and Community Coffee
 - 11:00 a.m. - Gates Open
 - 12:00 - Missippi Roots (yes, that's how they spell it!) 
 - 1:45pm - Honey Island Swamp Band 
 - 3:30 - Guitar Shorty - Afternoon Balloon Flight* 
 - 5:30 - The Last Waltz Ensemble 
 - 7:30 -Ingram Hill
 - 9:30 - Tonic

Sunday, October 16, 2011
 - 7:00 a.m. - Morning Balloon flight* sponsored by American Medical Response and Community Coffee
 - 12:00 -  Noon Gates Open
 - 1:00 p.m. - The Concordia Parish Talented Music Program
 - 2:45 - Mark Adam Miller
 - 4:00 - Afternoon Balloon Flight*
 - 4:30 - Randy Houser

Get Your Tickets Now! See you there!

Mississippi pumpkin patches are in full harvest as families all over the state and surrounding areas choose their very favorite pumpkin patch to make that all important choice of which pumpkin to take home for the season! It’s more than just picking pumpkins of course, corn mazes, hay rides, petting zoos and more round out that exciting trip to the Pumpkin Farm. Check out some of our very best pumpkin patches in Mississippi below!

Circle Y Pumpkin Patch

Circle Y Equestrian Center, Corinth, MS



Welcome Fall with a day at Circle Y. Petting zoo, miniature golf, bouncy playroom, wagon ride, fish feeding, train ride, pumpkin picking and more. Concessions and country store are on site. Group reservations are available.





"The Memphis Corn Maze" at Our Family Farm

8980 Center Hill Rd., Olive Branch, MS



"The Memphis Corn Maze" at Our Family Farm will be open to the public on Sat from 10a.m. - 10p.m. and Sun 1-6p.m. The Pumpkin Patch will close at dusk each day.





Southern Promiseland Farm's Corn & Pumpkin Patch

1212 Raygan Ln, Kiln, MS



10-acre alien invasion-themed maze, 5 acres of which includes a Sudoku challenge at the Southern Promiseland Farm's Corn & Pumpkin Patch. Pumpkin and gourd patch, hayrides, farm animal viewing, duck pond, concession stand, play and picnic area, haymaze, and a 1-acre grass maze for pre-schoolers. Also, the first annual Haunted Maze for the nights of October 30 and 31.





Cedar Hill Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maize

008 Love Rd., Hernando, MS



Pick Your Own Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maize at Cedar Hill Farms along with the petting zoo, pony rides, hay fort, chicken show and tractor-drawn hayrides will be open to the public from Sept. 26 to Oct. 30. Experience the Corn Maize turned haunted on Friday and Saturday nights along with the Haunted Hayride and Trail of Terror. These three unique haunted attractions will start at dark at Cedar Hill Farms.





Our Family Farm Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch

14281 Stateline Rd., Olive Branch, MS



October is time for our corn maze and pumpkin patch. Find your perfect pumpkin and try to find your way through our maze at this Mississippi event. Day or night, the maze is a challenge; no city lights to help you find your way, but still family friendly. Open during October on Fri. and Sat. 3-9p.m. and Sun. 2-6p.m. Weekday times available for groups.

Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo Annual Pumpkin Patch

2272 North Coley Rd., Tupelo, MS



Join us at the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo for our 9th Annual Pumpkin Patch. Enjoy our kid's bounce, games, fce painting, maze, and hay ride. Make your own scarecrow, and pick your own pumpkin. Adults: $9.00; children: $8.00; Senior: $8.00. Make your own scarecrows: $10.00 each. Family rates: Pumpkin Patch Family Pack - $29.95 (this includes 2 Adults and up to 4 children); Pumpkin Patch and Park Family Pack - $49.95 (this includes 2 adults and up to 4 children).

Mitchell Farms Pumpkin Patch

650 Leaf River Church Road , Collins, MS



This fall, start a family tradition that you and your kids will always remember-celebrate the season with a family outing to the Mitchell Farms Pumpkin Patch. Admission is only $7 for children and adults on Monday through Friday. Mon.-Fri by Reservations only. Open to public on Saturdays (9 a.m.-6 p.m.) and Sundays 1-5 p.m. We offer a wide variety of fun for every age, so the price is the same for everyone. All admissions include a free pumpkin for every paid visitor! Weekend tours are $8 per person: on the weekends, the log homes are open for tour, our grist mill is in operation grinding fresh cornmeal, and guests may tour our peanut operation. Children under 2 are free, but do not get a free pumpkin. We accept cash, checks, Visa, Master Card, and American Express. The pumpkin patch is wheel chair accessible. Church groups, garden clubs, birthday parties, nighttime fire pits, weddings, receptions, company picnics and school field trips are welcome. Please call ahead for reservations.





Lazy Acres Plantation,LLC

596 Lazy Acres Rd., Chunky, MS







This 120-acre farm has been creating wonderful memories for families since 1980. The gentle rolling hills filled with beautiful fields of Christmas trees and the fun and excitement of our Pumpkin season is the reason many families make visiting Lazy Acres a tradition. Hayrides to the pumpkin patch, time with the farm animals, pig races, mazes, Chunky Choo-Choo rides and taking your aim at Punkin' Chunkin‘ are some of the majorly fun activities found here in Oct. From Thanksgiving till Christmas is a wonderful, magical time of the year at Lazy Acres where visitors find beautiful Christmas trees they can cut themselves. On your visit make sure you check out the gift shop for some unique Christmas items, take a ride on one of their tractor drawn sleighs, and visit with Dasher, their live reindeer. The ranch is open to groups on weekdays by appointment and open to the public on the weekends without appointment. Pumpkin patch, corn maze, hayrides, an animal park and field trips are available during Oct. Reservations are required during the week

Circle S Ranch, LLC

5300 Clarence Harris Road, Lauderdale, MS







Pumpkin patch, corn maze, child-sized hay bale maze, wagon rides, tractor-pulled hay rides, snacks & refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, gift shop.

Adkins Farms

373 Hwy 364, Booneville, MS







The Adkins Family invites you to something they think is simply AMAZING. Since 2002 they have been entertaining visitors with their intricate labyrinths, pumpkin chunks, campfires, hayrides, not to mention giving them a fright at Halloween. Agricultural education about a wide array of produce is now high on their list of activities with the addition of bee pollination and bee observation. Each paying customer goes home with a pumpkin and some even win prizes! Extra pumpkins can be purchased at our barn. There is also a snack bar with food and drinks for sale. Annual Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch - Sep thru Nov 31 (large groups need reservations). Other fall festivities - Oct 3 thru Oct 31. Pumpkin Chunkin’ Festival is held the first Sat in Nov.Annual Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch Sep thru Nov 31 (large groups need reservations). Other fall festivities Oct 3 thru Oct 31. Pumpkin Chunkin' Festival held the first Sat in Nov, U-pick vegetables May through Dec each year.

Simmons Pumpkin Patch

1676 Simmons Rd., Belzoni, MS



Just north of Belzoni, Mark and Peggy Simmons have been opening the gates to their magical farm for 18 years. Beginning at the end of Sep thru Oct, children experience a hayride to the pumpkin patch through fields of gorgeous sunflowers where each child “picks” a pumpkin. Then there’s a stop at the petting zoo to see horses, baby calves and chickens for a taste of farm life. Miss Peggy pours the children “pumpkin juice” with plenty of time left for frolicking on the vintage farm equipment and tractor tires. The Simmons accommodate groups, particularly school children and teachers. This year, the family is offering a “come early special” with a discount per student from Sep 29th to Oct 2nd. On the weekends, the Simmons welcome church and scouting groups Sat starting at 10a.m. and Sun from 1:30p.m. - 5p.m., Belzoni.

Nichols-Boyd PumpkinPatch & Tree Farm

3970 Hwy 43 North, Brandon, MS







Come and enjoy our pumpkin patch, A"maize"ing cornfield & more! Month of Oct: Weekday scheduled visits for groups (schools, daycares, etc.). Weekends: Open to the public for hayrides to pumpkin patch & corn maze. Weekend nights: campfires, hayrides and corn maze are schedule only; minimum 30 people. Christmas trees sold at MS State Fairgrounds as a part of Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital Fundraiser. Please call during the week for reservations, but no reservations are needed on the weekends.

The Pumpkin Patch at OakKnoll Farm

5042 Old Mill Road, Osyka, MS



Activities include face painting, story time, animal viewing, hayride to pumpkin patch, hay maze, "mini" maze, playground & picnic area. Ideal for school trips, youth groups, day cares, church groups, family outings, etc. Open October 1 - October 31. Reservations are required. Open 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. Monday thru Friday; 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. Saturday.

Farmer Jim's PumpkinPatch and Corn Maze

Mississippi 16 West, Rolling Fork, MS









Come join us at Farmer Jim's on Hwy 16 West outside of Rolling Fork for some good ole fashioned fun on the farm. Pick your pumpkin of different colors, shapes, and sizes straight from the vine in our five acre pumpkin patch. Check out our heirloom pumpkins, sunflowers, and gourds for your fall decorating needs. Get lost in our corn maze which features a new design each year and come back after dark for our Haunted Maze! Children of all ages love playing in the corn pool and other free activities for a trip full of fun. Plan to spend as much time as you have with us. Bring your lunch and enjoy our picnic area. Bonfire area is available to roast hotdogs and marshmallows at night. Groups of all sizes and ages are always welcome by appointment on weekdays as well as on weekends. Open to the public each weekend in October. Check our website for new activities.

Triple N Ranch

2404 Hwy 35, between Holcomb and Carrolton, Carrollton, MS







For those who like to horseback ride, pet animals, swim, pick pumpkins or jump, romp and stomp, this ranch offers over 86-glorious acres of trees, hills, and lakes tailor made for families and friends to do just that. Your own rodeo arena can be provided if the occasion is needed. A petting zoo, giant inflatables, wagon rides, farm animals, swimming, a pumpkin patch in the fall, and a haunted walk through the woods are among the menagerie of activities for families, groups, and school age children to enjoy on field trips and outings. There is an awesome “redneck” water slide, a long zipline through the woods and a party hut for events. Lodging is provided for overnight guests in the red barn bunkhouse and charming cabin. There are outside grills and large decks for cook outs and picnics. The ranch is open year round for your enjoyment. Call for hours.

Fiddlin' Rooster Farm

393 County Road 102, Water Valley, MS



Looking for a fun place to take your family or an “out of this world” farm experience for group tours? Fiddlin’ Rooster Farm is the place! Located in North Mississippi, it offers a world of education, fun, and imagination to people of all ages! This 103 year old farm is absolutely beautiful - like a farm off the pages of a story book. Indulge yourself in the diversity of activities offered here. Picnics, music and barn dances, corn maze, pig races, cow train, farm animals, and pumpkin patch or ripe blue berries, just to give you a few clues. Let your imagination go to the pulse of a fiddle and banjo … swirling dancers … soft shuffling sounds of happy feet on a wooden floor of the barn loft – it’s small town Mississippi in 1927 (or before)! And it’s recreated at the Fiddlin’ Rooster Farm Barn Dances. They have horses, goats, ducks, geese, chickens and “Daisy” our Shetland mule. Did we mention the Bakery? Chewy cookies and puffy muffins, brownies, cakes, pies, homemade granola, jams and jellies — and so much more, all made fresh daily, are waiting for you in the Little Red Hen Bakery. Come hungry and leave with bags of goodies! Tuesday – Friday 9:00 am-2:00 pm for field trips. Please make Reservations for these. Open to the public without reservations on Thursday and Friday 5:00 -9:00 pm, Saturdays, 10:00 am – 9:00 pm., closed Sundays. This“Grandma’s farm” is complete with a 103 yr. old restored farmhouse (don’t spill your marbles on these floors or you’ll never find them!) an old two story barn that begs to be explored, two ponds stocked with large mouth bass, a vegetable garden, a kitchen garden (near the kitchen, of course!) a fruit orchard, a large crop of very interesting corn, and home to a menagerie of animals.

Holley Farm

2000 Patton Flat Rd., Fulton, MS



5-acre corn maze and a new mini maze for younger visitors, pumpkin patches, cotton patch, cane sorghum patch, 45 minute narrated wagon ride along Bull Mountain Creek, country store with many locally made crafts and canned goods, animal alley, corn crib, antique & history wall, guided field trips, playground areas, 30 ft. super slide and rumble slide, barrel train, mums, hay bales, picnic area, concession stand with home cooking & wildlife viewing. Group catering available.





Pumpkin Patch Farms

2390 County Rd. 805, Blue Mountain, MS



October is one of the most beautiful and exciting times of the year on this farm. Please join us at The Great Pumpkin Patch to experience hours of outdoor fun and activities that the whole family can enjoy. Pumpkin Patch Sep thru Nov 1 (registration for groups only). 

 

The Stennis Space Center experience is not one with an age limitation. Young and old alike are in for an experience that is out of this world at the award-winning StenniSphere in Stennis Space Center, MS! Tours of StenniSphere depart from the Launch Pad at the Hancock County Welcome Center west of Bay St. Louis, Miss., on I-10 at Exit 2– just 48 miles west of Biloxi and 45 miles east of New Orleans. Visitors 18 and older must have a valid photo ID in their possession. International visitors must provide a valid passport. Start your experience by walking beneath an Apollo-era Lunar Lander before viewing exhibits and interactive videos in the Launch Pad.



Now it’s time to board a shuttle bus to StenniSphere where everyone experiences a 25-minute narrated tour through the 125,000-acre acoustical buffer zone to America's largest rocket test complex where Space Shuttle Main Engines are tested! This test complex is 14,000 square feet of exciting displays featuring real rocket engines, scale models of spacecraft, a Navy exhibit, unique presentations and the Rocketeria Diner. StenniSphere’s outdoor exhibits give visitors the rare opportunity to see real rocket engines used in America’s space program. See a Space Shuttle Main Engine used to get the shuttle into orbit! Get close up to a J2 engine used on the second stage of the Saturn V rocket! Touch a real F1 engine, designed as a booster engine for the first stage of the Saturn V vehicle for the Apollo program! See a model of the Saturn V rocket! Walk up to a real Learjet, used in NASA’s remote sensing program! …And more!



In StenniSphere's Test Control Center, you become a rocket test conductor and test fire a Space Shuttle Main Engine. View an engine test through aperiscope just like the scientists do at Stennis Space Center. Check out a hands-on exhibit of Space Shuttle engine parts that have actually flown in space.Try your hand at landing a Space Shuttle! You’re in the pilot’s seat in a replica of the Space Shuttle cockpit. Observe your fellow crew members at work in the payload bay.The International Space Station exhibit demonstrates how astronauts live and work in space. Try your hand in the glove box and see how astronauts sleep. This exhibit is a scale replica of a module on the real International Space Station. See the International Space Station from you rhometown as it orbits overhead.



The StenniSphere is open Wednesday – Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm (Last Bus Departs at 2pm). The Rocketeria is closed on Saturdays but the picnic area is available. Field trips and charter tours are welcome and you may schedule tours for Monday-Saturday by calling 1-800-237-1821.