Red Brick Roads: New Dates, Red Brick Run, & Red Brick Brew

By Clinton Courier | March 3, 2025 |

Red Brick Roads moves to spring date, bigger than ever

By Sherry Lucas

Red Brick Roads Music and Arts Festival is set to bloom with a new spring spot on the calendar and a host of new attractions Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 27 through 29, in Olde Towne Clinton.

The festival is a joint effort of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Clinton and the City of Clinton. Its core draw remains the same, with a stellar lineup of music with all-ages appeal.

But, along with its new date, the newly-expanded festival offers additional events and tie-ins that amp up the festival’s arts draw. Red Brick Roads Festival weekend has pulled up to 5,000 revelers into the heart of Clinton throughout the weekend, and an extra day, more activities and more pleasant temps may boost that count.

Feedback over the years convinced festival organizers that a move from August to late March was the way to go.

“August being a summer month, it’s just hot — there’s really no way around it. Year after year, we kept seeing temperature in the upper 90s and the 100s,” Clinton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Anna Nutt said.

“Just for the safety of everybody, for the comfort of everyone and [with] feedback from the community, we decided it was time to explore a new date,” she said. Now for the upcoming edition, “We just hope that the weather is great.”

Red Brick Roads gets an early start with the free StoryFest on Thursday, March 27, hosted by the Institute for Southern Storytelling, in the Entergy Theater at Gore Arts Complex Mississippi College East Campus at 400 East College Street in Clinton. A double-header features Mississippi author Michael Farris Smith and a screening of the short film Chasing Rabbits, Smith’s directorial debut, and a conversation with celebrated actor and Mississippi native Gary Grubbs, complete with film and TV clips.

Another new event, the Red Brick Roads Paint Out, hosted by Wyatt Waters Gallery on Saturday, March 29, invites painters of all ages — student (up through college), amateur and advanced/professional levels — to join the fun and camaraderie of on-location painting, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on festival Saturday. It’s a non-juried event, with a People’s Choice Awards program for artists who want to join the competition (not required). The $80 entry includes a weekend pass to the festival, hospitality at the gallery on festival Friday and Saturday, refreshments and other perks. Visit www.WyattWatersGallery.com for more details. Artists will be able to sell the paintings they’re creating.

For a gentler creative nudge, check out Clinton’s spring Art in the Park, now gathered under the Red Brick Roads Festival umbrella that weekend. The free, participatory event encourages creativity in the community, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, in Lions Club Park. About sixteen artists will be onsite, demonstrating their artistry. Some will have artwork available for purchase. Interactive art crafts will provide a way for families and friends to get in on the art action. Hinds Community College Bands perform throughout the day, for yet another festive touch.

Meanwhile, the festival itself promises the magnet of music that pulls the community onto the brick streets for grooving and good times. Country party faves Mustache the Band rocks the town Friday, March 28. Saturday, March 29, comes alive with Mississippi-based The Akashic 45s, country artist JT McCaffrey, alt rockers Smokies, funk group Joslyn & The Sweet Compression, a Songwriter Round (Don Poythress, Billy Montana, Brian White) and New Orleans funk band The Rumble.

Tickets are on sale now at RedBrickRoads.com, with options of a weekend pass ($35), a one-day pass ($20 Friday, $25 Saturday), or a VIP pass for the weekend ($125).

Red Brick Run brings 5K option to festival weekend

By Sherry Lucas

The inaugural Red Brick Run joins the Red Brick Roads Music and Arts Festival 2025 in late March, as one more element to expand the popular festival’s appeal.

The 5K walk/run through Clinton’s historic Olde Towne begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, at the Olde Towne Depot, and concludes by 9 a.m., with plenty of time for runners, walkers, cheerleaders, families and friends to take part in the many additional activities the day brings, from music on the brick streets to Art in the Park at Lions Club Park.

Can’t make it in person? A virtual race option is available, too.

The Red Brick Roads Music Arts Festival, March 27 to 29 in Clinton, moves to the spring this year, chasing more comfortable temps and greater participation. It also brings the chance to expand festival offerings, such as this first run. The festival is a joint project of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Clinton and the City of Clinton.

“We’ve had it in the back of our minds for a few years, trying to have more runs that the Chamber does — kind of like a series of runs,” said run coordinator Nathan Cummins, who also heads Clinton’s popular Yule Run. “With the decision to move Red Brick Roads to the springtime, it felt like a natural fit to add the run.”

“It should be good weather, and it’s also an added boost for the festival.… It’s a great time of the year to be running.”

Dozens have already signed up to participate, with at least forty taking advantage of early bird registration that went through March 1.

“We expect that to at least double,” Cummins said.

As an added perk of signing up, registrants will get a pass to one day of the festival, as well as a race T-shirt. “You’re getting your bang for your buck when signing up.”

Red Brick Brew now a staple of annual music and arts fest

By Sherry Lucas

Red Brick Brew is back as part of the Red Brick Roads Music and Arts Festival, which has moved from summer to spring on the Clinton calendar.

The fun and friendly home brew competition will again be a sudsy staple of the festival’s prime Saturday afternoon draw. Red Brick Roads Music and Arts Festival, a joint effort of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Clinton and City of Clinton, will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 27 through 29, in Olde Towne Clinton.

“We’re just really excited about the weather — that’s going to be the super fun part,” competition organizer Allison Reno said. “The beer’s always amazing, we’re just super excited we’re not going to be sweating to death.”

Red Brick Brew always has a wide variety of brews to sample, ranging from stouts to really light beers.

“It’s a great time to try new things,” Reno said.

Registration deadline is March 10. It’s free to enter, though in lieu of an entry fee, brewers are asked to serve their beer in the beer garden at the festival.

Brewers can drop off their entries at the Clinton Chamber of Commerce between March 10 and March 20, with 5 p.m. Thursday, March 20, as final cutoff to turn in entries. Judging will be held on the following Sunday (a week before the festival), with winners announced at the fest on Saturday, March 29. Tasters at the festival have the chance to vote onsite for the People’s Choice Award.

Close to a dozen entries have already trickled in, with those numbers expected to skyrocket as the festival nears. For signup and more details, visit RedBrickBrew.BrewingCompetitions.com.

“The buzz around it gets bigger and bigger every year,” Reno said. At its last outing in 2023, Red Brick Brew had just under fifty entries. Generally, between ten and fifteen brewers will enter the competition, with most entering more than one beer.