By MDA Staff Writer | October 11, 2026
CLEVELAND, Miss. — Downtown Cleveland hosted the 44th annual OctoberFest on October 9–10, bringing a two-day program of barbecue competitions, live entertainment, arts and crafts, and family activities to the Mississippi Delta.
Presented by the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce and Cleveland Main Street, the event’s published schedule featured the Mississippi Delta Barbecue State Championship, the Wicker’s Tour of Champions, food concessions, children’s activities and a new VIP area.
The barbecue championship was sanctioned by the Memphis Barbecue Network, with competitors taking part in a tradition that has helped make the festival one of Bolivar County’s signature annual events.
In addition to the competition, the downtown program offered visitors opportunities to browse vendors, enjoy performances and explore local businesses. Organizers promoted general admission as free, with certain competitions and special experiences requiring tickets.
The festival’s emphasis on food, music and family entertainment reflects the role of community celebrations in bringing residents and visitors together and showcasing downtown Cleveland.
Official event information confirms the schedule and planned attractions. Attendance totals and contest results were not independently verified at publication time.
Sources: Official OctoberFest website; Mississippi Main Street event listing.