Discover Hernando

There are three distinct ways to focus your stay in Hernando: events, local history, and cycling routes. If you’re looking for a hotel in Hernando, the reason for your trip can shape your choice of travel dates. First decide whether an event date, the town’s history, or a bike ride is important to your plans.

Plan Around Seasonal Events

The A'Fair Arts and Crafts Fair takes place every year on the third Saturday in May in the historic square in downtown Hernando. The Sunset on the Square concert series takes place every Thursday in June at 7 p.m. and is free. This gives you a specific Saturday in May and recurring Thursday evenings in June as two different event options.

The Hernando Farmers Market takes place every Saturday from April through the end of October in the historic Town Square. Unlike the concert series, which is limited to June, the market runs over a longer seasonal period. Hernando Dickens of a Christmas features Victorian characters, carriage and trolley rides, ice skating, a high tea, Christmas crafts, and family activities. Event dates, program details, and seasonal market dates may change; check the latest information for your travel period before you go.

Church Architecture, Town Planning, and Educational History

The Historic DeSoto Museum is housed in the former First Presbyterian Church. The church is one of the oldest surviving churches in Hernando. The historic Courthouse Square also has its own distinctive urban design: it preserves a Spanish grid layout. The town’s history is therefore reflected in both individual historic buildings and the design of a public square.

Baptist Industrial College was founded in 1900 and was among the earliest private schools for African Americans in northern Mississippi. Its original dormitory still stands. Its early role in education and the surviving dormitory add another topic to the history of the church and the square: the educational history of African Americans in northern Mississippi.

Two Cycling Routes Compared

Two routes of different lengths and layouts are available for cycling. The Roller Coaster Loop Bicycle Route is a 9.6-mile loop with rolling hills and varied terrain. The Lake and Back Bicycle Route is 25.1 miles long. It starts at the DeSoto County Courthouse and reaches the Hernando Point Campground, which is the turnaround point. It is more than twice as long as the loop.

To start planning, narrow down your choice by distance and route type: a 9.6-mile rolling loop or a 25.1-mile route starting at the courthouse and turning around at the campground. This lets you make cycling a focus of your stay without treating the two routes as equivalent.

Discover more destinations: Horn Lake, Olive Branch, and Southaven.

For the broader travel overview: Desoto.