The smell of fried food and the sounds of Grateful Dead songs were in the air Saturday night, Sept. 19, 2026, as the Mississippi Earthtones Festival celebrated its 20th anniversary.
The festival is a collaboration between Alton Main Street, the Sierra Club and Jacoby Arts Center. For 10 hours that weekend, the Alton Amphitheater becomes a place for art and environmentalism to combine. Vendors showcase their eco-friendly wares, local bands groove, and organizations that specialize in conservation share more about their work.
I decided this year to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Mississippi Earthtones Festival by joining in the fun as a volunteer! I arrived at the festival around 6 p.m. and was pleased to see it pumping, with lots of families walking around and enjoying everything the vendors had to offer.
I pulled on my “Rooted in Rhythm”-themed t-shirt and jumped in. My job was greeting guests as they walked through the gates and helping vendors navigate packing up as a few of them headed out for the night.
It was a lot of fun to chat with the vendors and hear about their day at the festival. So many of them thanked the organizers for providing such a positive, happy space for people to enjoy. It’s refreshing, in this day and age, to be part of something that truly is just plain old happy. It was a happy day.
And so many people were eager to start their nights, too! As I welcomed attendees and passed out programs, quite a few of the guests told me that they were excited to come in and enjoy the band as the night continued. One or two people confided they had been at the festival earlier and simply took a break before coming back to round out the evening.
More than one person announced they didn’t need a program because they had been attending the festival for several years now and knew where everything was. Iconic.
And, of course, it speaks to the power of the Mississippi Earthtones Festival. So many people love this event and come back year after year to support it. It has staying power; that’s impressive.
I tried not to lose sight of the purpose of the festival. While we were all having a great time, the event is technically a celebration of It’s Our River Day, and the goal is to promote conservation and environmentalism. Especially as a river town in Alton, we know firsthand how important the river is.
It can be easy to neglect the river, mostly because we’re used to seeing it every day. You forget how cool it is that we live right at the junction of three rivers. You overlook the importance of protecting this natural resource, because you’re just so used to it being there.
But it’s only because of people who care that we have such a gorgeous, wonderful landmark here. People like those who volunteer with the Sierra Club for their upcoming river cleanup on Sept. 26; people like Alton Main Street folks who organize events like this; people like Jacoby Arts Center and their dedication to art in all its forms. This festival really drove home the value of taking care of our environment in times like these.
Nature gave me a little nudge, too. First, you had the sunset on the river, which quite a few people stopped to comment on. It was especially gorgeous on Saturday night and I got to watch from my spot at the festival’s entrance. Beautiful!
And, of course, it was very hot. I remember a time when September felt like fall, but lately, these hot months are encroaching on our other seasons. It’s a stark reminder of what we stand to lose if we don’t do what we can to help the environment.
The festival was a small piece of that, but we can do more to support the environment in our everyday lives, too. And if you’re not sure where to start, reach out to one of the three organizers. They can point you in the right direction!
I don’t say all this as an environmental expert. There’s still a lot I have to learn. But I enjoy experiencing these learning opportunities in moments like at the Mississippi Earthtones Festival, and I look forward to more chances to connect with the community and the environment during events like this.
