MERIDIAN, Miss. (November 12, 2026) – As the countdown to New Year's Eve begins, Young Professionals of Meridian (YPM) is preparing to welcome residents and visitors from across the region to its second annual NYE Bash, set for Dec. 31 on City Hall Lawn.
Building on the success of last year's inaugural event, the free community celebration will feature live music, food and beverage vendors, family-friendly activities, Meridian's signature "carousel drop" and a fireworks display to ring in 2027.
The event will run from 6 p.m. to midnight on Thursday, Dec. 31, with designated family-friendly hours from 6-8 p.m. featuring inflatables and activities for children before the evening transitions into a night of live entertainment and celebration.
"This year, we're excited to showcase an all-Mississippi lineup featuring some of our state's most talented musicians," said YPM President Landon Gibson. "As we wrap up America's 250th anniversary, it's a fitting time to celebrate Mississippi's lasting contribution to our nation's culture through the music that was born here. We can't wait to ring in another year together while continuing to invest in Meridian's future."
Headlining this year's NYE Bash are Garry Burnside with special guest Kenny Brown, bringing generations of Mississippi Hill Country blues tradition to the Queen City. The youngest son of blues legend R.L. Burnside, Garry Burnside is a Grammy-nominated musician known for his signature blend of Hill Country blues, funk and rock he calls "Funk Hill Country." His latest album, It's My Time Now, earned Album of the Year honors at the 2026 Josie Music Awards.
Joining him is North Mississippi blues musician and slide guitarist Kenny Brown, who has performed and recorded alongside the Burnside family, with R.L. Burnside referring to Brown as his "adopted son." A respected figure in the Hill Country blues tradition, Brown earned a Grammy nomination in 2022 for his contributions to The Black Keys’ album Delta Kream. His guitar work was also featured in the 2006 film Black Snake Moan, where he provided backing for Samuel L. Jackson's vocals.
The evening will also feature performances by local favorites Lach Thornton, Daniel Houze and DJ Tech, rounding out a lineup rooted in Mississippi's rich musical heritage.
As midnight approaches, attendees will gather for the return of the "carousel drop" — Meridian's unique take on the traditional New Year's countdown — followed by a fireworks extravaganza to welcome 2027.
Proceeds from the event support the YPM Scholarship Fund, which invests in the next generation of leaders across the Meridian area. Earlier this year, YPM awarded three $2,000 scholarships to graduating seniors representing Meridian High School, Lauderdale County School District and the private/homeschool community.
"Our community showed up in a big way last year, filling City Hall Lawn and raising funds that allowed YPM to award scholarships to three deserving high school graduates," Gibson added. "We couldn't have asked for a better response, and we hope to continue our progress as we move forward together."
YPM NYE Bash 2026 is presented by Visit Meridian in collaboration with the City of Meridian and supported by Magnolia Beverage Company and Mitchell Distributing. Businesses and individuals interested in sponsoring the event can contact youngprofessionalsofmeridian@gmail.com.
About Young Professionals of Meridian:
Young Professionals of Meridian (YPM) provides a collective voice for young professionals who live or work in Meridian or Lauderdale County through social interaction and community involvement. A network of individuals who make a living in a professional environment — or plan to do so — YPM hosts monthly meetings on the second Monday of each month, as well as networking events, exclusive tours and after- hours social gatherings.
Visit https://www.embdc.org/.../young-professionals-of-meridian/ to learn more.