'The Movie Capital Of Mississippi' Is A Charming City With Boutique Shops, Blues Heritage, And A Massive Christmas Festival

Hollywood may hold the corner on movie-making magic, but there's a small Mississippi city with a storied blues legacy, charming downtown, and annual community events that's also hosted a number of renowned film sets. Canton, Mississippi, is on the Mississippi Blues Trail, just 26 miles north of the state capital, Jackson. The county seat of Madison is anchored by a picturesque Greek Revival courthouse built in 1855, which is nestled in a manicured courtyard square. The city is known as "the most festive Christmas town in Mississippi" thanks to the annual Canton Christmas Festival, furthering the city's Hallmark vibe. It's also home to the Mississippi Championship Hot Air Balloon Fest and the twice-yearly Canton Flea Market Arts & Crafts Show, which draws thousands to the downtown area.

Canton was a major hub during the Civil Rights era, as it's located along what today is known as the Civil Rights Trail. Martin Luther King, Fannie Lou Hamer, and other Civil Rights' leaders organized, stayed, and marched in Canton. Local landmarks including the Freedom House Civil Rights Museum, the Canton Multicultural Center and Museum, and the Canton Museum of History pay homage to this momentous history through relics from the city's past. Note: They're open by appointment only.

Modern South magazine says Canton is the "must-visit movie capital of Mississippi," thanks to its prominence in several cinematic titles including "O Brother, Where Art Thou," "My Dog Skip," and "A Time to Kill." Visitors can take a self-guided walking tour to see which of Canton's buildings have been used as movie sets, and check out props, relics, and other set paraphernalia from movies at the Canton Multicultural Center and Museum and Canton Museum of History.

Mississippi is the birthplace of the blues, one of many reasons the state is best for a scenic road trip. Hickory Street — aka The Hollow – was once a popular spot for blues: The renowned slide guitarist Elmore James lived and often played here, and cafés such as Bessie's Hideaway, Club Desire, and Club Delece hosted greats such as B.B. King, James Brown, and The Platters. Today, markers denote these bygone sites. Music aficionados can also travel 25 miles west to visit the legendary Blue Front Café in Bentonia, America's oldest blues venue.

Canton's centerpiece is its Courthouse Square, a community hub that has often appeared in movies shot in Canton. Around the block, stroll past downtown's colorful historic buildings, some of which now house boutiques. Find vintage treasures, gifts, local handicrafts, and a tea room at Merri Pennie's Mercantile, and women's fashion at Love Story 1979 and Ora's Closet Boutique. Browse antiques and local craftwork from dozens of vendors within 3,600 square feet known as Emporium of Canton, or thrift at Crossroads Treasures, where collectibles and clothing abound. Alternatively, Sulm's Gifts offers whimsical home items and gifts, plus a small art gallery.

Canton is an ideal stop for a proper Southern meal. Marlo's Backyard BBQ serves slow-cooked ribs and fried catfish with traditional sides such as turnip greens and fried okra. A Google Maps' reviewer advises, "If you want a real home cooked meal, please visit Marlo's." Another Google Maps' reviewer describes it as serving "some of the best food I've ever eaten." Meanwhile, The Cooking Diva serves rotating soul-inspired dishes in a converted historic house. "A true Southern experience in exceptional cooking!" wrote a Google Maps' reviewer. For an upscale steakhouse, try Two Rivers Restaurant, where marinated crab claws, saffron-laced seafood chowder, and gumbo might be on the menu. "A hidden gem," praised a guest on Google Maps.

Though it rarely snows, add Canton to the list of magical towns across America that go all out for Christmas. Acclaimed by Reader's Digest in 2025 as a Christmastime must-visit, Canton pulls out all the stops for the winter holiday. The light-themed extravaganza evokes the city's seasonal nickname, "City of Lights" and draws visitors from nearby towns. Festivities take place on weekends and evenings leading up to Christmas Day. Though specific activities vary year to year, expect an array of family-themed festive performances, train and horse-and-carriage rides, a vintage carousel, food trucks, and a giant Christmas tree in the courthouse square lit with more than 200,000 lights.

The notable Mississippi Art Colony, one of the state's longest-running arts organizations, brought the area into creative prominence in the 1940s, a reputation that lives on. Thousands of vendors and visitors descend on Canton for the Canton Flea Market Arts & Crafts Show in the spring and fall, which has run for more than six decades. Meanwhile, CantonTown hosts a flea and antique market on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year.

Canton's closest airport is Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN), 32 miles south of the city. But Canton's also just 8 miles from the historic Natchez Trace Trail, a historic route that's now a scenic road with intersecting hiking and biking paths, making Canton an ideal roadtrip stop or gateway to explore the outdoors in Southeast America. Also in Madison County, Cypress Swamp's raised, wooden boardwalk trail winds through a tupelo-cypress swamp that's home to alligators and birds. Ross Barnett Reservoir, meanwhile, about 11 miles south, is central Mississippi's largest recreational area. It offers camping, fishing, boating, and hunting. Hiking and biking are also popular along the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail, which links to the Ridgeland Multi-Use Path.