From light shows to parades, see list of events on Coast’s biggest holiday weekend
The first weekend in December is overflowing with holiday events, and nearly every city in South Mississippi is hosting a parade, a tree lighting or a party.
Most of the events are geared toward families and small children, but not everyone has family to share the fun or the budget to splurge on event tickets this Christmas.
A closer look at the calendar shows many of the event are free, like boat parades and fireworks. And some of the events are a chance for singles, young and old, to join the festivities.
Some of Saturday’s events are being postponed for a week because of the rain in the forecast, while others will go on rain or shine.
Here are some of the best bet for holiday events this weekend:
Dazzling light shows
Gulfport’s Harbor Lights at Jones Park on U.S. 90 reigns as the most impressive light show in South Mississippi. It’s great for all ages, since families can walk amid the 1.5 million lights or hop on the train and those who have more trouble getting around can ride through the displays in a heated trolley.
Admission is $15-$20 for adults and $5 for kids ages 5-12, but discount nights for teachers, military, first responders, seniors and Gulfport residents drops the cost to $5.
For those who want lights without the price, family and neighborhood light displays can be found in Long Beach, Biloxi and other places on the Coast.
Fun for singles
Those who are single this Christmas can find events suited to them.
While it’s fun and free for all ages, the Silent Light Festival Saturday from 5-10:30 p.m. at the Walter Anderson Museum at 500 Washington Ave. in downtown Ocean Springs is a good event for singles. Anderson’s artwork is projected on the building while performers and dancers entertain and DJs present silent disco to personal LED equipped headphones that can be rented for $10.
Advent Lessons and Musical Reflections will be presented at 3 p.m. Saturday at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral, 870 Howard Ave., Biloxi. It is fashioned after the traditional Christmas: “Lessons and Carols” and is presented by the community choirs of “Gloria In Excelsis” and “Mobile Vocal Arts.”
For singles looking for something unusual to do this year, Santa’s Creepy Christmas Boat Tour mixes a bit of Halloween with Christmas. Tours are offered nightly, featuring Santa and the Rougarou out on the Bayou in a spooky fairytale. After the boat ride, participants can join The Spirit Ghost Walk of Bay St. Louis. Tickets are $79.
Free community celebrations
Cities on the Coast each celebrate Christmas in their own way. Those celebrations are Saturday and are free:
In Pass Christian, Christmas in the Pass in the downtown has a parade at 6 p.m., Saturday with vendors, music and fireworks. It’s from 4-9 p.m. The Pet Pawrade scheduled for Saturday in Memorial Park is postponed until Dec. 9.
Horse drawn carriage rides are always popular at Downtown for the Holidays in Pascagoula Saturday, along with a parade, photos with Santa, tree lighting and local performances and entertainment. This year’s event will pay tribute to native son Jimmy Buffett. The event is from 5-8 p.m.
Biloxi celebrates all day and night Saturday, starting with Christmas in the City festival from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., then the traditional Christmas on the Water Boat Parade in the Biloxi Channel at 6 p.m. and fireworks to follow the boat parade.
Moss Point celebrates Christmas by the Water Saturday, complete with a land parade at 1 p.m., a live nativity, classic car show, Santa’s village and the boat parade, ending with fireworks at 6:15 p.m.
Long Beach chooses to do a waterless boat parade with its Sea Santa Sail-a-Bration through town Saturday beginning at 5:45 p.m., followed by a festival at the Town Green, with a Christmas tree lighting, human snowglobe and snow playground.
Christmas in D’Iberville is a full day of fun Saturday, with a pup parade at the D’Iberville dog park. At Santa’s workshop at the Town Green, kids can write a letter to Santa, make crafts and eat reindeer food. The parade starts at 5:30 p.m., with the tree lighting ceremony to follow.
Santa will be at the Snowflakes & Sugarplum Festival Saturday at Bay St. Louis, along with a Dream Castle Bounce Village, H&H Express Train and Christmas music. The event is from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Mistletoe & Main Street will bring people to downtown Gulfport for shopping, food and holiday fun. The Christmas parade rolls at 6 p.m.
What if it rains?
Rain is in the forecast for the weekend, postponing several events.
There are several indoor events and attractions that are good bets for family fun.
TrainTastic Interactive Railroad Museum is a delight at Christmas for kids up to grandparents, with model trains running in the largest model train exhibit in the country. It also has a place for kids to climb and slide while it rains outside. The attraction is at 615 Pass Road in Gulfport.
Other ideas for indoor events are:
Pictures with the Green Holiday Villain from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Edgewater Mall in Biloxi Dec. 2 and again Dec. 16.
Children’s Mardi Gras Christmas at Mary Mahoney’s, 138 Rue Magnolia, Biloxi. Pictures with Santa and the Gulf Coast Carnival Association royalty 2-4 p.m. $25 per person.
Breakfast with Santa Saturday at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic School Cafeteria, 4321 Espy Ave., Long Beach. $6 for breakfast and activities. 7:30-10:30 a.m.
Breakfast with Santa Saturday from 8-10 a.m. at Kroc Center, 575 Division St., Biloxi, is $5 per person and Santa will be there for holiday pictures. Also safety fair and vendor fair.
Cookies with Santa Sunday at Our Lady of the Gulf Community Center, 228 South Beach Blvd,, Bay St Louis, iis from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., with hot chocolate, kids crafts, ornament decorating, face painting.
Santa and Princess Elsa will be at the Richburg Hall’s Holiday Fest Sunday at Sully’s, 1316 30th Ave., Gulfport for pictures from 9-10:30 a.m. and again noon- 1:30 p.m. Adults: $12 ($10 for military), children $8 (12 and under)
It may rain this weekend, but next Friday, Dec. 8, will be Snow Day in Ocean Springs from 1-5 p.m. at the L&N Depot Plaza — if weather cooperates. For more holiday events, check the Coastal Mississippi calendar.
