By Susan Marquez, Magnolia Tribune
London, England, UK – October 19, 2023: Exhibits and photos, displayed at the Direct from Graceland: Elvis exhibition which is held at the Arches London Bridge (Photo from Shutterstock)
An exhibit in Ocean Springs marks the 70th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s visit to the Mississippi Gulf Coast during a pivotal time in his career. The exhibit, held at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center, will run Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm through August 27. The exhibit is free to the public.
“A lot of people don’t know that Elvis spent so much time here in the summer of ’56 and such a pivotal time in his career,” said Chelsea Norton Prince, outreach coordinator for the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area.
In partnership with the Elvis on the Coast exhibit, a limited-time walking food tour is being held twice weekly, bringing the story of Elvis’ infamous Summer of ’56 to life through today’s flavors. Participants on the tour will wind through Downtown Ocean Springs, stopping at four beloved local restaurants for Elvis-inspired tastings while your guide shares the real history of Elvis’s time here. It’s food, history, and a little rock ‘n’ roll all in one afternoon.
Tours are held on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. until 4 p.m. through August 27.
The first thing you need to know is you need to come hungry. A guided walking tour with a knowledgeable local guide will take you to four Elvis-inspired food tastings across four restaurants. Throughout the tour, there will be historical storytelling tied to the MS Gulf Coast National Heritage Area’s Summer of ’56: Elvis on the Coast exhibit. And for those who want to loosen up their hip swivels, there will be optional cocktail pairings.
The tour begins at Government Street Grocery, where meatloaf and mashed potatoes are on the schedule. That’s fitting, since Priscilla Presley once revealed Elvis ate exactly this every single night for six straight months. Your guide will set the scene for Elvis’s summer on the Coast while you dig in.
The perfect cocktail pairing is The Velvet Elvis.
The next stop is the Garage at Cash Alley, where diners will experience a dish that needs no introduction. Elvis’s all-time favorite snack was a peanut butter-banana-bacon sandwich; this version is fried in bacon grease — rich, indulgent, and utterly Southern.
For the cocktail pairing, Screwdrivers will be served.
Then it’s on to Mosaic Restaurant for a double-bacon cheeseburger. This one is right in the King’s wheelhouse. Cheeseburgers were among Elvis’s well-documented favorites alongside the Southern comfort foods he grew up craving.
Try a Blue Suede Sidecar paired with this meal.
The endpoint is at The Lady May for a sweet, decadent finish, just as Elvis would have wanted. Beyond his savory obsessions, banana pudding, icebox cake, and rich Southern desserts were beloved staples at Graceland.
Try an Elvis Whiskey Cold Brew to end the day.
All this eating and Elvis lore takes place over a two-and-a-half-hour time period, with time to walk it off as you go from one restaurant to the next. The walking distance is only ¼ mile, but it’s enough to help begin the digestion process.
Groups range in size from two to 16. The tour is accessible to both strollers and wheelchairs.
This is a rain-or-shine event, so bring your umbrellas if it looks like rain. Cancellations can be made up to 24 hours.
This feel-good event gives back in a meaningful way. Proceeds support The Lord is My Help food pantry.
Don’t forget to tip your tour guide!
Learn more by visiting here.