Parades, parties and programs, oh my! Hattiesburg Christmas events cover it all

The city of Hattiesburg's annual tree-lighting ceremony Thursday at Town Square Park will open the door to a month of holiday festivities in Hattiesburg.

The tree lighting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the park, at Main and Buschman streets, following the annual Christmas parade.

Thursday

The 73rd annual Christmas parade, hosted by the Hattiesburg Jaycees, will begin at 6 p.m. in the 100 block of Hardy Street. The parade will meander down Front Street, past City Hall to Main Street then on to Town Square Park, where paradegoers are invited to attend the city's tree lighting. The theme for this year's parade is “Santa's Workshop.” Edward Hargrove Jr. will serve as this year's grand marshal.

The University of Southern Mississippi's Holiday Choral Spectacular will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Main Street Baptist Church, 11 Main Street Blvd., with a celebration of choral and orchestral holiday music. The show will feature several ensembles, including the Southern Chorale, Southern Miss Concert Choir and Southern Miss’s pop a cappella ensemble, Spirit of Southern. Area high school and middle school choirs also will perform at the event. Tickets are $20 plus fees, available on eventbrite.

The city of Collins Christmas parade will roll through the downtown area beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. This year's theme is Christmas in Candyland. For more information, visit cityofcollins.com.

Friday

Purvis' annual Christmas parade will roll at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Floats will line up beginning at 5 p.m., led by dear old Santa Claus. The parade will roll through downtown Purvis, beginning at the Lamar County Center for Technical Education, traveling down Main Street to Shelby Speights Drive and on to U.S. 11.

Saturday

Sumrall's Olde Town Christmas Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday throughout the downtown area. The event will feature a parade at 2 p.m., plenty of vendors and activities and more. Before the festival, visit with downtown businesses during their open house, which begins at 4 p.m. Friday and the live nativity scene from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Beam Park.

Petal's Christmas Parade and Celebration in the Park will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday at Hinton Park. Other activities include the lighting of the Petal Christmas Tree, food vendors, family-friendly arts and crafts and the city's Festival of Trees. For more information, visit the Petal Area Chamber of Commerce website, petalchamber.com.

Dec. 9

“Carey by Candlelight” at William Carey University, 710 William Carey Parkway, will showcase the work of students from the university's Winters School of Music. The event will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 9 at the university. “Carey by Candlelight” is part of downtown Hattiesburg’s “Candlelit Christmas.” Guests are invited to drive through to see the Hattiesburg campus lit by thousands of luminaries. They also may stop to enjoy live music, fellowship, free hot chocolate, cider, cookies and s’mores. Four WCU music groups will perform: Knights of Jazz, Hub City Worship, Restoration Band and Thomas Hall.

Christmas Open House will feature several events in the Sixth Street Museum District from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 9. A ceremony at the Generations Strong Wall, 410 East Sixth St., will introduce the final panel installations of the commemorative display at 11 a.m. Beginning at noon visitors may stop by Smith Drug Co. where Mrs. Claus will be holding story time and offering delicious home-baked teacakes. Christmas carolers will be performing at the African American Military History Museum and guests can take photos with Santa Claus, tour the museum and enjoy refreshments. There also will be a complimentary gift-wrapping station. Visitors are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots program.

Dec. 9-10

Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood Association's annual Victorian Candlelit Christmas will feature thousands of luminaries along the sidewalks, a tour of historic homes, carriage rides, holiday fare and more. For more information, visit hattiesburghistoric.com.

Dec. 10-11

William Carey University will present “A Carey Christmas” at Hardy Street Baptist Church, 1508 Hardy St., with performances at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 9 and 7 p.m. Dec. 10. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Come and Adore.” This event features the Carey Worship Choir and Orchestra, as well as local dance studios, including Jamie’s Performing Arts Studio, Leaps of Faith Ballet Ministry and Next Phase Dance Company. Tickets may be purchased at facebook.com/wmcareymusic. Look for the featured post at the top of the news feed. For more information, call the Winters School of Music at 601-318-6175.

Dec. 13

Meet at the Manger, a live nativity scene, will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 13 at Carterville Baptist Church, 1115 Carterville Road, Petal. The free event will take place on the church lawn. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. The live nativity will include live animals, Christmas carols, cookies and hot cocoa.

Dec. 13-14

The World Ballet Series' "Nutcracker" will be at the Hattiesburg Saenger Theater, 201 Forrest St., with performances at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and Dec. 14. The Christmas holiday dance classic will return to the Hub City Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy and Herr Drosselmeyer ready to delight their guests as the Nutcracker and his tin soldiers battle the evil Mouse King. The World Ballet Series features a cast of 50 professional dancers in the timeless holiday classic. Tickets and more information are available at hattiesburgsaenger.com.

Dec. 16

The annual Christmas Party and Mini Showcase presented by the Hattiesburg chapter of USA Dance will feature an evening of social dancing, beginning at 7 p.m. at Jackie Dole Sherrill Community Center., 220 West Front St. There will be a number of featured dancers throughout the evening as well as time to cut a rug with your favorite partner. Light hors d'oeuvres and a few festive moments will keep dancers and nondancers entertained. Ugly Christmas sweaters are welcome. Admission is $10 for USA Dance members and $15 for nonmembers. For more information, visit facebook.com/usadancehattiesburg.

Throughout December

Lights of the Wild at Hattiesburg Zoo will begin Dec. 1, with plenty of other activities in addition to the light show, including storytime with Mrs. Claus in the Asbury Discovery Center, photos with Santa at the Africa Pavilion, animal encounters and unlimited train rides. Snow will be falling at the zoo's splash and the Bug Hub. Holiday treats, dinner fare and seasonal beverages will be available at stations throughout the zoo. Hours are 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 1-3; Dec. 8-10; and Dec. 15-23. Tickets at the gate are $16 per person Sundays through Thursdays and $20 Fridays and Saturdays, if available. Children 2 and younger are admitted for free. Tickets purchased online are discounted. The online ticket window closes at 4 p.m. daily. Lights of the Wild will take place rain or shine. Tickets are nonrefundable. Check the zoo's social media sites for updated ticket information and weather cancellations. Hattiesburg Zoo is located at 107 South 17th Ave. For more information, visit hattiesburgzoo.com.

Christmas at Beam Park in Sumrall will feature an extra treat this year with a life-sized snow globe from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in December. Other fun treats will be offered throughout the month as well, including a lights display at the park, 6 Columbia Ave. in Sumrall, a Live Nativity scene from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 and live music by Frank the Camel from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 and Dec. 22. For more information, visit the Sumrall Lights Group on Facebook.

Landrum's Homestead and Village in Laurel will present a walking tour from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. each weekend in December. The tour features an array of Christmas lights and music, photos with Santa, funnel cakes, hot chocolate, marshmallows to roast, wagon rides and more. Activities will be ongoing throughout the day. The lights will be sparkling from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The smokehouse also will be open during the holiday season. Admission is $12 per person for visitors 3 and older. For more information, visit landrums.com.

Columbia's Live Nativity presentation will feature more than 80 volunteer actors from local churches who will recreate the pilgrimage to Bethlehem and the miracle of Jesus' birth. The procession begins at 7 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in December with a procession down Main Street with Roman soldiers, angels and townspeople in period clothing following along. The parade ends at the courthouse lawn, which will be transformed into a reimagination of the stable where Jesus was born. Mary, Joseph and the rest of the nativity will gather around the manger while choirs sing Christmas carols. Fireworks and Christmas lights with shine upon the courthouse, creating a magical backdrop for the heartwarming community celebration. For more information, visit visitcolumbiams.com.

Thursdays-Saturdays in December

The city of Collins' annual Christmas in the Park will begin at 5 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Bettie D. Robertson Park. The event will feature nightly light displays and more. For more information, visit cityofcollins.com.

Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Find Christmas holiday events in Hattiesburg area