By MDA Staff Writer |September 17, 2026
CLARKSDALE, Miss. — The Mississippi Delta Tennessee Williams Festival will return to Clarksdale Oct. 15–17 for its 34th annual celebration of theater, literature and the playwright’s connections to the Delta.
Organizers say this year’s festival will be free and open to the public. Registration and advance reservations are not required.
Coahoma Community College founded the festival in 1992 under the leadership of former college president Dr. Vivian Presley. Its creation was supported by a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The event examines how Williams’ childhood experiences and family connections in Clarksdale influenced his writing. Born Thomas Lanier Williams III in Columbus in 1911, he moved to Clarksdale with his mother, sister and grandparents in 1917.
Williams’ grandfather, Walter E. Dakin, served as rector of St. George’s Episcopal Church. The former rectory where the family lived is now the Tennessee Williams Rectory Museum.
Clarksdale-area places, stories and family experiences later appeared throughout Williams’ work. Festival organizers identify Moon Lake, downtown landmarks and names drawn from local residents among the Delta influences found in his plays and other writings.
The festival continues with support from Coahoma Community College and community partners. Organizers have posted a general schedule and encourage visitors to watch the official festival website for additional program details.
Photo courtesy of: Tennessee Williams Festival website
Source: Official Mississippi Delta Tennessee Williams Festival website