JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The City of Jackson hosted the inaugural JXN Food & Wine Festival on Saturday, March 2.

“I never been to Mississippi before. This has been a good experience. I’ve never seen a lot of random people. I just came here by myself, so I feel like there’s no rain here so I can see where nice and welcoming. It’s been such a great experience,” said Torie Bates, a Chicago native.

The festival showcased renowned chefs from Mississippi and beyond, along with notable sponsors.

“We participated in the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival for a number of years, alongside Visit Mississippi and other destinations throughout the state. And it just felt like this was something that we could bring to Jackson. We thought that the community was supported, and we knew that we have a culinary talent and delicious food to, you know, to pull it off,” said Yolanda Clay-Moore, director of Partnerships with Visit Jackson.

“Events like this give the city a sense of place. These are the events that people start looking forward to each year when people visit. They remember the time that they had in the City of Jackson, the unique experience that they had. And so, this is just one extra thing to add to the catalog of things that we offer as a city,” said Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba.

Organizers hope to continue the festival for many years to come.