MERIGOLD, Miss. -- Mississippi ranks among the top six states in rice production, and there is no better occasion to celebrate the industry’s success than Rice Fest.

This year’s festival will be held Sept. 19 in downtown Merigold from 4 to 9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The annual celebration, which also observes National Rice Month, will feature rice tastings provided by Crawdad’s restaurant, exhibitions, games for all ages and live music from the Mike Ellis Band and Joe Austin and The Tallahatchies. The 2024 Delta Rice Queen and Ambassador will also be announced.

2024 marks the 34th installment of Rice Fest, hosted by Delta Rice Promotions. The Mississippi State University Extension Service, Mississippi Rice Promotion Board and Mississippi Farm Bureau serve as co-sponsors.

With 118,000 acres harvested from 221 farms across 16 counties in and near the Mississippi Delta, the 2023 rice crop had a $135 million production value in the state.

For more information, visit http://deltaricepromotions.org.