King Biscuit Blues Festival

Founded in 1986, the King Biscuit Blues Festival is one of the nation’s foremost showcases of blues music. Held for three full days (plus the bonus “Warm Up Wednesday” the evening before) annually in October, tens of thousands of blues enthusiasts converge on historic downtown Helena, Arkansas to hear stirring and uplifting performances of an American art form on the banks of the Mississippi River. Consisting of five stages (including the levee-top amphitheater “Main Stage”), a wide variety of buskers (street musicians), supplementary events (including the Flour Power 5k Run, the Tour da Delta bicycle race, and a Kansas City sanctioned BBQ Contest), food and arts/crafts vendors galore, and one-of-a-kind shopping in the eclectic shops and boutiques of historic downtown Helena, there is truly something for everyone.