Ready for some holiday fun? Events, Christmas lights on display in Jackson metro area

Gabriela Szymanowska, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·4 min read

It's that time of the year again as families across the Jackson metro attend holiday events and decorate homes and businesses with lights, bringing a little bit of winter wonderland to the South.

The map below features a few neighborhoods typically filled each holiday season with homes displaying twinkling lights, glowing outdoor displays and other décor.

There are plenty of winter events kicking off the holidays in early December. Here are a few to look forward to:

Jackson

The 89th performance of Belhaven University's Singing Christmas Tree will take place at the Belhaven Bowl Stadium, 1500 Peachtree St., on Dec. 3-4 at 7:30 p.m. The free annual event, started in 1933, is considered the oldest singing Christmas tree tradition in the United States, according to a Belhaven University press release.

Also on Dec. 3, the Christmas by Candlelight tour will return to Jackson this year. Residents can enjoy free live music, holiday decorations and treats. The event will coincide with Jackson's Capital City Lights, with tours of five places in downtown, complete with holiday décor.

The tours will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with stops at the state capitol, governor's mansion, the grounds of the Old Capitol Museum, the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.

A free shuttle service will be provided between locations.

Capital City Lights, taking place in downtown Jackson, will be from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and include an ice-skating rink, two outdoor holiday markets for shopping, photos with Santa and more activities.

Ridgeland

To start off the holidays in Ridgeland, there will be a tree lighting at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 on Jackson Street at the Plaza at Old Town Crossing. There will be photos with Santa, shopping and Christmas music, said Rachel Collier of Ridgeland Recreation and Parks Department.

The festivities will continue with "Christmas at City Hall," 304 Highway 51, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 3. Santa will be available for photos, there will be activities for kids and a Christmas movie will be shown outdoors, Collier added.

At 1 p.m. Dec. 4, the city will host its Christmas parade beginning at Holmes Community College and travel through Old Town subdivision. This year's theme is 'Superheroes Celebrate Christmas,' and all are encouraged to dress as a superhero.

A special mailbox will be set up at City Hall, 304 Highway 51, for letters to Santa. Families are encouraged to stop by with their children to drop off a letter, and kids might even get a reply before Christmas.

Madison

Madison's holiday calendar is full of activities, music and events in early December.

Madison will host a Christmas parade on Dec. 4 at 9 a.m. starting at the Ridgecrest Baptist Church on Old Canton Road and ending at the Red Caboose on Main Street, said Brittany Mayfield, director of economic development for the city.

The city will host two drive-by Santa events from 5-6 p.m., one on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at Madison Avenue Upper Elementary School, 1209 Madison Ave., and a second on Thursday, Dec. 9, at Madison Station Elementary School, 311 Bozeman Road. Families can drive by in their cars, wave to Santa and drop off a letter in a mailbox for Santa at both locations.

Other events:

  • Dec. 2 — Chris Tomlin Christmas Tour at the Broadmoor from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

  • Dec. 2-4 — Christmas in the Country at Chapel of the Cross

  • Dec. 2, 3 & 4 — The Best Christmas Pageant at 7:30 p.m. at the Madison Square Center for the Arts

  • Dec. 5 — The Best Christmas Pageant at 2 p.m. at the Madison Square Center for the Arts

  • Dec. 7 — Sip and See our Angel Tree at the Children's Memorial Garden at Strawberry Patch Park from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

  • Dec. 11 & 12 — Let There Be Peace outdoor concert at Ridgecrest Baptist Church at 6 p.m.

  • Dec. 11 — Toy Drive at First Presbyterian Church of Madison from 9:30-11 a.m.

Pearl

The City of Pearl will celebrate the start to the winter holidays by decorating City Hall, 2420 Old Brandon Road, ​​​​for "A Candyland Christmas." City officials will light a Christmas tree at 6 p.m. on Dec. 4., followed by a nighttime Christmas parade at 6:30 p.m., according to city spokesperson Greg Flynn.

At 7:30 p.m., the city will host its community Christmas party inside City Hall's community room with arts and crafts for kids, free hot chocolate, desserts and sweets and photos with Santa Claus.

This story may update.

Have a news tip? Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at gszymanowska@gannett.com, on Twitter or at 601-215-4292.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Christmas decorations, holiday events set to take place around Jackson