Memorial Day Weekend events on the MS Coast: Seafood fest, fireworks, music & more

Mary Perez
·6 min read
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Kick up those white shoes — it’s Memorial Day Weekend in South Mississippi.

The Coast will welcome the start of summer with festivals, picnics and the annual Gulf Coast Symphony concert Sounds by the Sea, followed by fireworks.

South Mississippi also will pause this weekend to remember those who died for our country’s freedom, and salute their sacrifices with the placing of flags at Biloxi National Cemetery and with solemn ceremonies.

Memorial Day Weekend is the kickoff of the summer festival season, and already two new events are added to the calendar.

A Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest Saturday morning in downtown Biloxi will be a colorful start to the weekend and the inaugural Resilient East Biloxi Community Festival is June 10 on Main Street.

Here are the events for Memorial Day Weekend and the highlights of the summer festivals and fun:

Sounds by the Sea will be Saturday in Jones Park in Gulfport. The event combines the beauty of the orchestra and a military salute with the blast of fireworks.
Sounds by the Sea will be Saturday in Jones Park in Gulfport. The event combines the beauty of the orchestra and a military salute with the blast of fireworks.

Memorial Weekend events

May 24-28 — Tour of Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island Wednesdays through Sundays at 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Meet at the entrance for a 45-minute walk through Fort Massachusetts.

The St. Clare Seafood Festival begins Friday in Waveland and will run through Sunday.
The St. Clare Seafood Festival begins Friday in Waveland and will run through Sunday.

May 26-28 — St. Clare Seafood Festival, St. Clare Catholic Church, 236 South Beach Blvd., Waveland. Entertainment and all kinds of seafood will be featured. Friday is Cajun Night along with a military tribute. Saturday’s classic car show is from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., with a blessing of cars at 11 a.m. Entertainment King of Neon and their light show from 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Foret Traditions Sunday from 7-10 p.m. and fireworks Sunday night.

May 26-28 — Mississippi Greek Weekend at locations across the Coast and events and activities focused on community involvement, civic leadership and healthy living along with social events.

Members of a motorcycle club from Arkansas attend the Memorial Day Blowout at Gulfport in this file photo.
Members of a motorcycle club from Arkansas attend the Memorial Day Blowout at Gulfport in this file photo.

May 26-29 — 40th Memorial Day Blowout at Gulfport Dragway, 17085 Racetrack Road, Gulfport, with racing, contests and entertainment all weekend. Recommended for adults only. $40 per person for the weekend, $20 for Sunday only.

May 27-29 — Memorial Day HoopFest is back on the Biloxi Beach with boys’ basketball teams from throughout the south. Deadline to register to play is May 23 by 6 p.m. 1-985-817-5910

May 28-30 — Amazing Bayou Adventure: Exploring the Natural and Historical Wonders of Davis Bayou Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays, at 1 p.m. 30 minute tour. Meet at the William Colmer Visitor Center at Gulf Islands National Seashore off U.S. 90 in Ocean Springs.

Saturday, May 27

Coast honors veterans each Memorial Day Weekend by placing flags on their graves at Biloxi National Cemetery at 400 Veterans Ave. Volunteers will place the flags in front of each grave starting at 9 a.m. — or earlier. Volunteers are also needed June 3 to remove the flags to storage.

Every grave has a U.S. flag for Memorial Day at the Biloxi National Cemetery. Volunteers place the flags and return after Memorial Day to store them.
Every grave has a U.S. flag for Memorial Day at the Biloxi National Cemetery. Volunteers place the flags and return after Memorial Day to store them.

Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest is a new and free event at 771 Howard Ave. in Downtown Biloxi, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Judged art contest for Coast middle and high school students, who will create their masterpieces on sidewalks along Howard Avenue from Lameuse Street to the Mardi Gras Museum. Also space for elementary students, whose work won’t be judged. Pre-register for display space.



Paint Party with an instructor and everything needed to create an aquatic work of art, 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Mississippi Aquarium, 2100 East Beach Blvd., Gulfport. $40.50 for members and $45 for non members, including aquarium admission.

Memorial Weekend Event at DAV Chapter 5, at 2600 23rd Ave., Gulfport. Presentations at 11 a.m. Country classic band starts at 1 p.m. Food and drinks available. Bikers welcome. Benefits disabled veterans.

National Geographic photo show at 4:30 p.m. at Walter Anderson Museum, 510 Washington St., Ocean Springs. Camp led by National Geographic photographers for student photographers from across Mississippi ends with a display of their work from coastal Mississippi. Free

Gulf Coast Symphony plays a free Memorial Day Weekend concert at Jones Park in Gulfport Saturday. A salute to the military is a favorite during the performance with the songs from each branch of service.
Gulf Coast Symphony plays a free Memorial Day Weekend concert at Jones Park in Gulfport Saturday. A salute to the military is a favorite during the performance with the songs from each branch of service.

Sounds by the Sea at Jones Park, Gulfport. Grammy-winning New Orleans Nightcrawlers open at 6 p.m., and the Gulf Coast Symphony will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks follow at dusk. Food and beverage trucks will be available. Admission is free. Bring lawn chairs and blankets.

D.K. Harrell performs from 7-11 p.m. at Ground Zero Blues Club, 814 Howard Ave., Biloxi

Sunday, May 28

Jazz in the Pass — is from noon-8 p.m. at War Memorial Park, U.S. 90 and Flietas Avenue in Pass Christian. The event is free. Food, drinks and crafts will be for sale. The entertainment schedule is: Noon-1:45 p.m., Clinton High School Jazz Band. 2-3:45 p.m., Jake’s Jazz Trio featuring Camilla Ali. 4-5:45 p.m, Julius Handy III (great-nephew of Captain John Handy). 6-8 p.m., Unfazed Show and Band. Bring lawn chairs and blankets.

Jazz in the Pass will be Sunday at Pass Christian’s War Memorial Park.
Jazz in the Pass will be Sunday at Pass Christian’s War Memorial Park.

Biloxi Blessing of the Fleet starts with a ceremonial wreath drop at 2 p.m. Decorated boats parade along the Biloxi Channel from the Beau Rivage Casino east as spectators watch from the beach. Shrimp and recreational boats will receive a blessing for a safe and bountiful season.

A decorated boat awaits its turn to receive blessings at the 2021 Blessing of the Fleet and Shrimp Festival in Biloxi. The event is a tradition each year.
A decorated boat awaits its turn to receive blessings at the 2021 Blessing of the Fleet and Shrimp Festival in Biloxi. The event is a tradition each year.

Free Asian Concert at IP Casino Biloxi in Studio B. 9-11:30 p.m. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. for general admission; arrive early for the best seats.

Monday, May 29

Memorial Day Ceremony. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2539 and City of Gulfport will conduct a ceremony to honor all deceased military veterans at 7:30 a.m. at VFW Post 2539 at 2518 23rd Ave., Gulfport.

Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. at Biloxi National Cemetery at 101 Memorial Drive, off Veterans Avenue in Biloxi.

Memorial Day Avenue of Flags. Ceremony hosted by American Legion Post 1992 and the City of Gautier at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Tribute Tower, 3330 U.S. 90, Gautier.

Summer festivals & best bets

May 31-June 4 — Jeepin the Coast has entertainment, scavenger hunts, poker runs and a beach crawl. Jeep Central is in Long Beach.

June 3 — Red, White and Blueberry Festival, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in downtown Ocean Springs.

June 3 — Gulf Coast Wooden & Classic Boat Show, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Schooner Pier Complex, 367 Beach Blvd., Biloxi.

June 5-11 — Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic fishing tournament and weigh-ins at Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi.

Spectators watch the weigh in at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic at Point Cadet in Biloxi in this Sun Herald file photo.
Spectators watch the weigh in at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic at Point Cadet in Biloxi in this Sun Herald file photo.

June 10 — Sand Jam ‘23 at Pascagoula Beach Park is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with free youth fishing, free kayaking for all, beach games, giveaways, art contest and pirate treasure hunt.

June 10 — Resilient East Biloxi Community Festival, 3-7 p.m. on Main Street Biloxi between Division and Murray streets. music, local food and art vendor, historic East Biloxi tour and scavenger hunt, horseback riding and the history of Black cowboys.

June 10 — Biloxi Blues Extravaganza, 8 p.m. at Coast Coliseum, Biloxi

July 13 — Thomas Rhett: Home Team Tour with Cole Swindell and Nate Smith, 7:30 p.m. at Coast Coliseum, Biloxi

July 14-16, 21-23 — Jabbawockeez is the summer show at Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi. The original family show has innovative choreography and synchronized dance moves set to music.

Aug. 25 - 27 — Jurassic Quest roars into Coast Coliseum in Biloxi

Aug. 28 — The Doobie Brothers 50th Anniversary Tour, Coast Coliseum, Biloxi

Coastal Mississippi has an extensive calendar of more events on the Coast.

Send details of other Memorial Day Weekend events to mynews@sunherald.com.