Tupelo's last fall weekend: the Ale Trail Oct. 30, a steak and BBQ cookoff at Huntington Bank Arena Oct. 30-31 and the Buffalo Park pumpkin patch to Oct. 31.

Last checked Oct. 26, 2026. This page is updated each fall. Dates come from the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association, Visit Tupelo’s events calendar and Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo. Confirm with the organizer before you go; outdoor events can change for weather.

October is Fall Into Tupelo Month downtown, and one weekend is left: the Ale Trail on Friday, Oct. 30, and the Shake, Rattle and Roll Steak and BBQ Cookoff at Huntington Bank Arena on Oct. 30 and 31. Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo runs its pumpkin patch every day through Saturday, Oct. 31. The Chili Festival, Communities Forward and the Dudie Burger Festival have passed; they are listed below for next year.

Updated Oct. 26: past festivals marked; the BBQ cookoff and Ale Trail afterparty details added.

Who to call

  • Downtown events (Chili Festival, Ale Trail): Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association, 662-841-6598
  • Dudie Burger Festival: 662-841-6438 (the number on its listing)
  • Pumpkin patch: Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo, 662-844-8709
  • Visitor information: Visit Tupelo, 399 E. Main St., 662-841-6521

Still to come

Date Event Where Admission
Friday, Oct. 30 Ale Trail presented by FNB Tupelo Downtown shops, afterparty at the FNB Tupelo Courtyard $30 (21 and older)
Oct. 30-31 Shake, Rattle and Roll Steak and BBQ Cookoff Huntington Bank Arena parking lot, 375 E. Main St. Steak bite tickets $25 (Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m.)
Through Saturday, Oct. 31 Pumpkin patch Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo, 2272 Coley Road Call 662-844-8709

Earlier this fall (past)

Date Event Where Admission
Friday, Oct. 16 Tupelo Chili Festival Fairpark $10 tasting ticket
Friday, Oct. 16, from 6 p.m. Communities Forward Fun Night: 5th Quarter Tupelo Police Athletic League, 204 Douglas St. Free
Saturday, Oct. 17, 1 to 10 p.m. Communities Forward Festival: Boots, Buckles and Brims Gumtree Park, 683 N. Front St. Free
Saturday, Oct. 17, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Movies on the Trace: “The Land Before Time” Parkway Visitor Center, 2680 Natchez Trace Parkway Free
Sunday, Oct. 18, 2 to 6 p.m. Dirty Merchants Vintage Market Backline Music Hall, 5339 Cliff Gookin Blvd. Free
Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dudie Burger Festival Ballard Park, 689 Rutherford Road Free
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 to 6 p.m. Tupelo Mimosa Festival Fairpark Tickets
Oct. 24-25 Lee Williams Legacy Fest 475 N. Front St. $5

The big ones

Ale Trail. Stroll downtown shops sampling craft beer paired with small bites, then finish at the FNB Tupelo Courtyard for an afterparty with live music from Josh McCloud and food, the Main Street association says. Visit Tupelo lists tickets at $30; it is for ages 21 and older.

Shake, Rattle and Roll Steak and BBQ Cookoff. Cook teams compete in the Huntington Bank Arena parking lot from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, according to the Visit Tupelo listing. On Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m., the Hunger Coalition sells $25 tickets for at least 10 steak bites, raising money for its work; call 662-432-1894.

Past: Tupelo Chili Festival. Teams from local businesses, city departments and the community compete for top chili at Fairpark, with live music and food trucks. A $10 ticket gets you samples and a vote in the People’s Choice contest, the Main Street association says.

Past: Communities Forward Festival. Two days: a free Friday fun night at the Tupelo Police Athletic League with a 10-and-under basketball game, a Police Department vs. Fire Department game and grass volleyball, then a Saturday festival at Gumtree Park with live music, line dancing, vendors and inflatables. Bring lawn chairs. Information: 662-687-2607.

Past: Dudie Burger Festival. A free day at Ballard Park with food, music and kids’ activities. Information: 662-841-6438.

Past: Lee Williams Legacy Fest. The fifth annual gospel weekend honors gospel singer Lee Williams, alongside CC Williams and the Spiritual QC’s 62nd anniversary.

Earlier this month, the Main Street association’s free Family Fun Day at The Depot was held Saturday, Oct. 10, with pumpkin painting, face painting and food trucks.

Pumpkin patch

Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo, 2272 Coley Road, has hosted an annual pumpkin patch since 2001. It runs every day in October:

Days Hours
Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Schools, day cares, churches and other groups can book visits, the park says. The park also notes that some animals cannot be viewed when the temperature is below 60 degrees. Information: 662-844-8709.

What this means for you

  • Last fall weekend: Ale Trail Friday, BBQ cookoff Friday and Saturday.
  • Pumpkins: Buffalo Park, through Saturday, Oct. 31.
  • Next up downtown: the Holiday Open House, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8; see our Black Friday and holiday shopping page.

Related: trick-or-treat hours, things to do this month and farmers markets.

Frequently asked questions

What fall events are left in Tupelo this year?

The downtown Ale Trail on Friday, Oct. 30, the Shake, Rattle and Roll Steak and BBQ Cookoff at Huntington Bank Arena Oct. 30-31, and the pumpkin patch at Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo through Saturday, Oct. 31.

Is there a pumpkin patch in Tupelo?

Yes. Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo, 2272 Coley Road, runs its annual pumpkin patch every day through Oct. 31: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

When was the Tupelo Chili Festival in 2026?

Friday, Oct. 16, at Fairpark in downtown Tupelo. The Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association, 662-841-6598, runs it each October.

What is Fall Into Tupelo?

Fall Into Tupelo Month is the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association’s October lineup, which includes Family Fun Day at The Depot, the Tupelo Chili Festival at Fairpark and the Ale Trail.