Who says there is nothing to do on the weekends in Mississippi? A bit of adventure and an attraction to the offbeat are all one needs to fill their spring and summer calendars with some of the more unique events around.

In Mississippi, towns large and small will throw a festival for just about anything — and they are within driving distance.

Vicksburg’s festival celebrates the Mississippi River and Vicksburg’s role on the river. It is established and routinely draws large crowds. Most know about Jazz Fest in New Orleans of Memphis in May, but what about a Saturday in Tupelo to celebrate Dudie.

The Dudie Burger Festival is scheduled for April 30. Legend has it that a businessman named Truman “Dudie” Christian converted an old Memphis streetcar into a burger joint. Because of rationing in World War II, Dudie created a recipe by supplementing the meat patties with flour and water. By the end of the war, the burgers were a Tupelo favorite.

The restaurant closed in 1986, but for one day a year — this year on April 30 — Dudie Burgers are available. The streetcar is in on display in front of the Oren Dunn City Museum in downtown Tupelo. Admission is free, but something tells me the burgers won’t be.

Hattiesburg hosts a festival honoring dragonflies. The critters look frightening, but are wonderful at ingesting mosquitoes. In Mississippi, with summer looming, honor thy dragonfly.

In May, we can fly a kite in Long Beach, honor the great Jerry Clower in Yazoo City and eat crawfish in Leland. Tupelo will honor the gum tree with a festival.

June brings us a dairy festival at a water park in Tylertown, a hip-swinging good time at the Elvis Presley Fest in — where else? — Tupelo, and the always-entertaining Highway 61 Blues Festival in Leland. Original Delta bluesmen are climbing the age ladder and chances to see them live are fading. It’s cheap and the drive is an easy one.

July features a festival for blueberries in Waynesboro, Gulf crabs in Bay St. Louis and watermelons in Mize.

Early August, before the kids are back in school, oogle the bodock trees in Pontotoc and experience a watermelon carnival in Water Valley.

All it takes is a map, a tank of gas and a sense of adventure. The uniqueness of Mississippi is showcased every summer. This will be no exception.

•

Sean P. Murphy is web editor. He can be reached at smurphy@vicksburgpost.com