The Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Festival is a family-friendly community event in Leland, Mississippi that celebrates the state’s rich outdoor traditions, wildlife, and conservation heritage. Bringing together educational exhibits, interactive activities, live entertainment, and local vendors, the festival offers an engaging experience for visitors of all ages. Designed to connect people with Mississippi’s natural environment and outdoor culture, the event highlights conservation awareness while creating a fun, welcoming atmosphere. Whether attending to learn, explore, or simply enjoy the festivities, the Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Festival is a meaningful celebration of the Delta’s natural and cultural roots.
This Festival also includes two of Leland’s long-standing celebrations—the annual Crawfish Festival and FrogFest. The Crawfish Festival is a long-running annual event celebrating the area’s local culture with boiled crawfish. Platters heaped with crawfish, corn and potatoes are available during the lunchtime hours.
The FrogFest is another Leland annual event geared towards children. A variety of games and entertainment make this event a favorite among the community’s youth. Participants are also educated on the legacy of Jim Henson, creator of the muppets. Jim grew up in Leland playing on the banks of Deer Creek. He attributes Leland as “the birthplace of the frog.”
The Crawfish Festival and FrogFest are held in conjunction with the Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Festival on Saturday. Participants of either or both are encouraged to bring two or more canned goods to donate to the Leland Food Pantry.