The Small Town In Mississippi That's One Of The Coolest In The U.S.
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published April 23, 2017
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
Amazing small towns can be found in just about every part of the Magnolia State, but if you’re searching for one of the coolest, you’ll have to head to the heart of the Mississippi Delta to Cleveland, Mississippi. Small only in terms of population, Cleveland is brimming with things to do. Between a lively downtown that’s known for its great shopping and festivals to interesting sites and museums, it’s practically impossible to deny that Cleveland is one of the coolest towns in the U.S. Take a look:
Located in Bolivar County, Cleveland is a small town home to less than 15,000 people.
One of the most popular is "First Thursdays featuring Art in the Alley" - a monthly event where local vendors sell original art, jewelry, music, food, and more.
Some aspects of the event vary from month to month, but it typically includes an inflatable bounce house for kids, family bike rides, and live entertainment.
Fun for the entire family, the festival attracts over 15,000 attendees and features hundreds of vendors, two music stages, a children’s area, plenty of food, and a BBQ contest.
Held each September, Otherfest is a music festival that features up-and-coming performers. During Anotherfest, the sister festival of Otherfest, musicians perform outside of local restaurants throughout Cleveland. If you're in town for the music, don't miss mouthwatering Mexican restaurant Mosquito Burrito while you're here.
Venture from Cleveland's lively downtown, and you'll find some pretty interesting sites, like Dockery Farms.
A stop along the Blues Trail, Dockery Farms once employed several future music legends, including blues pioneer Charley Patton. The site, which is believed to be the actual birthplace of the blues, is open year-round for touring.
No matter your interest, Cleveland probably has a museum for you.
In addition to the recently opened GRAMMY Museum, you'll also find the Boo Ferriss Baseball Museum and the Martin and Sue King Railroad Museum. You can explore cultural sites and more with Real Delta Tours and Artistry.
While in Cleveland, be sure to pay a visit to Airport Grocery.
The iconic eatery is known for its hearty portions of authentic Delta-style comfort food. Browse the menu and you’ll find everything from award-winning burgers and barbecue to hot tamales.
Ready to plan a trip to one of the country's coolest towns?
