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There are music festivals, and then there is the King Biscuit Blues Festival. Every October, thousands of blues fans head to Helena, Arkansas, from all over the world, for a weekend that feels more like a homecoming, rather than just another concert.
On Oct. 10–11, 2025, the Mississippi River levee becomes one of the world’s top blues stages and Cherry Street fills with food, art and community spirit. This year marks the 38th festival, and if you’ve ever wanted to experience Delta blues in its purest form, now’s the time!
What is King Biscuit Time?
The King Biscuit Blues Festival gets its name from King Biscuit Time, the longest-running daily radio show in the United States. First aired in 1941 on KFFA in Helena, the show featured Sonny Boy Williamson II and Robert Lockwood Jr. as the “King Biscuit Entertainers,” and later included Pinetop Perkins and James “Peck” Curtis. Generations of blues musicians, including Muddy Waters and B.B. King, would quickly leave the fields to tune in to the program.
At the microphone was “Sunshine” Sonny Payne, who hosted King Biscuit Time for decades and helped bring Delta blues to the world. Known for his wit, warmth and encyclopedic knowledge of music, Payne became a legend in his own right. The program still airs live every weekday from the Delta Cultural Center, keeping the blues heartbeat of Helena strong more than 80 years after it started.
A Festival Rooted in History
The idea for the King Biscuit Blues Festival originated in 1986, when locals sought ways to rejuvenate Helena’s downtown Cherry Street area and celebrate the town’s existing assets. The answer was simple: the blues. By naming the festival after King Biscuit Time, organizers honored the music that made Helena famous and created a cultural event that now draws fans from around the world.
Artists from Germany, Croatia and the Netherlands come every year, often arriving curious about the music and leaving captivated by the Delta itself. Visitors quickly learn that Helena isn’t like New Orleans or Memphis — it’s smaller, more laid-back and friendly, with locals who treat guests like family. That warmth has kept the festival thriving for nearly four decades, despite challenges from funding cuts and pandemic shutdowns. Thanks to the passionate support of sponsors, donors, and the community, the festival continues to stand out as one of the world’s top blues events.
What to Expect at the Festival
The fun really kicks off across the river in Clarksdale, Mississippi, with warmup events Wednesday and Thursday. By Friday, all eyes will focus on Helena, where the main stage on the levee begins a two-day lineup of powerful blues performances.
This year’s schedule includes:
- Friday, Oct. 10 – Music begins at 1 p.m., with a full lineup of artists leading into an evening VIP party featuring Colorado barbecue legend Crispy Critters. Friday afternoon features “old timers” and Mr. Sipp, “The Mississippi Blues Child.”
- Saturday, Oct. 11 – Start the day with a “Blues, Bloody’s and Biscuits” brunch in the VIP tent, then settle in for nonstop music from afternoon through the night. The Saturday night headliner is the B.B. King Museum Band, celebrating the 100th birthday of the King of the Blues.
Alongside the main stage, a smaller indoor stage hosts longtime performers in an intimate setting until mid-afternoon. On Friday afternoon, festivalgoers also enjoy “Bit of Blues,” a youth showcase for musicians under 18, plus special programs that bring local schoolchildren to the concerts. Every child even leaves with a harmonica after a hands-on lesson; a tradition that helps pass the blues to the next generation.
More Than Music
King Biscuit Blues Festival offers more than just music onstage. Saturday features a 5K run, the Tour da Delta bike ride and a cornhole tournament. Sunday concludes the weekend with the Pinetop Perkins Homecoming at the old Hopson Plantation in Clarksdale.
Along Cherry Street, you’ll find arts and crafts vendors, nine to ten food trucks, and local favorites like Biscuit Row and Delta Dirt Distillery. Bring your own lawn chair because the levee overlooking the Mississippi River creates a natural amphitheater where you’ll want to sit and enjoy the music. Tickets are $20 for a single day or $35 for a two-day pass, making it one of the best music deals around.
Helena’s Blues Legacy
The festival isn’t just about keeping the blues alive; it’s about preserving Helena’s identity. Cherry Street once pulsed with department stores, restaurants and movie theaters during the city’s industrial boom. Today, organizations like Thrive are working to restore and reimagine the district with murals, music parks, and family-friendly spaces. The new splash pad, outdoor instruments and Delta Cultural Center exhibits give visitors plenty to explore beyond the festival gates.
And nowhere else in Arkansas can you step off a Mississippi River paddleboat, walk just one block and find yourself surrounded by such a rich history, culture, and music.
If you’re looking for authentic Arkansas culture, this is the place to find it. For two days in October, Helena becomes the center of the blues universe, and you’re invited.
King Biscuit Blues Festival
Oct. 10–11, 2025 | Helena, Arkansas
Event Tickets | $20/day and $35/two days
Hosted by the Sonny Boy Blues Society
Stage Schedule: The Lineup
Adjacent Events: Wednesday – Sunday
Photos throughout the story provided by King Biscuit Blues Festival. Header photo courtesy of Arkansas Parks, Heritage & Tourism.
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