Thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Jackson to take in the sights, sounds and tastes of the 82nd National Folk Festival. The event took place Friday through Sunday, featuring performers in a wide range of musical genres, plus visual arts and food. The National Council for the Traditional Arts works with host communities to produce the festival around the country, and this was the first one in the Deep South. Jackson will host the 83rd and 84th National Folk Festivals in 2026 and 2027. Organizers intend for this to lead to a locally produced festival after the three-year run of the national event.