What a weekend in South MS with Cruisin’ the Coast, festivals, drone show and more
Cruisin’ The Coast rolls back in to South Mississippi Oct. 2-9, bringing more than 9,000 antique and classic cars and their fans, including Jay Leno and The Beach boys.
The start of Cruisin’ on Sunday is the highlight of the weekend that also will be celebrated with the Hancock Whitney Sea of Stars drone and fireworks show on Friday, festivals, fundraisers and a Jurrasic Park movie night with a presentation by a “creature creator” who added to the special effects for Jurrasic Park 2 and several other blockbuster movies.
Cruisin’ opens Sunday with events in Gulfport and Gautier, and continues all week with a parade, flame-throwing competition and lots of poodle skirts and ‘50s music.
Warm and sunny days are in the forecast and Cruisin’ The Coast executive director Woody Bailey said Cruisers are coming from across the U.S. and even a ‘79 Ford Thunderbird from England. This is the first time the UK has come to what has grown in 26 years to become the largest event in Mississippi.
Bailey said 9,500 cars are pre-registered, about the same as last year 25th celebration.
“I didn’t think we were going to get up to these numbers this year,” he said, “especially given the economic conditions and gas prices.” But Cruisers are loyal and many spend their vacations on the Mississippi Gulf Coast every first weekend in October.
Here’s the schedule for this weekend and beyond:
Friday
Fridays @ The Fort concert series at 6 p.m. at Fort Maurepas on the beach in Ocean Springs.
Six String Andrew ft. Testdrive at 7 p.m. at Ground Zero Blues Club, 814 Howard Ave., Biloxi. Presale tickets are $10; day of $15. Andrew Sullivan, 16, has played with blues musicians sand guitar legends Buddy Guy and Bob Margolin from the Muddy Waters Band.
Hancock Whitney Sea of Stars fireworks and drone light show begins at 8 p.m. at Gulfport beach. The free community celebration features food, music and a drone lights and fireworks show visible from Jones Park in Gulfport and along the beach to benefit the Mississippi Aquarium. Drones create lighted 3D dolphins, turtles and other shapes and this year’s fireworks show will be bigger and better. VIP tickets available for 6 p.m. cocktail fundraiser at the aquarium.
Sunset Music Cruise from 7-9 p.m. to view the Sea of Stars drone and fireworks show from the water with Ship Island Excursions. DJ and full bar and snack bar onboard. $30
Movie Night: Jurassic Park at Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, 386 Beach Blvd., Biloxi. 6:30-9 p.m. Special guest speaker, is dinomaker Shannon Shea, a New Orleans native who now lives in Gulfport. During his 38-year career as a creature creator, he worked on some of the most iconic special effects in films like “Jurassic Park,” “ Predator,” Terminator 2” and “Spy Kids,” and he will bring props from Jurassic Park. $5 admission. Jurassic Park costume contest at 6:15 p.m. Dino talk starts at 6:30 p.m. and the movie at 7 p.m.
Happy Days are Here Again, an old-fashioned sock hop featuring Elvis tribute artist Nick Perkins, catering by Uncle Joe’s Pizza and Wings, silent auction, dancing, cash bar starting at 7 p.m.. At Bay St. Louis Community Hall, 301 Blaize Ave. Benefits Hancock Health Foundation. $50 tickets.
Rock The Tatas with Leilani Kilgroe Band & Strawberry at 7 p.m. at Ground Zero Blues Club, 814 Howard Ave., Biloxi. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of show.
Friday & Saturday
Swamp Pop in the Harbor, 115 Market St., Pass Christian. New family festival with Swamp Pop music starting at 5 p.m. Friday and on Saturday. Jambalaya cook-off Saturday at noon, car, truck and Jeep show Saturday noon-3 p.m. Mechanical bull, slides and bounce houses. Tickets start at $10.
Saturday
Zonta Arts and Crafts Festival from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Delmas Avenue in downtown Pascagoula. Live entertainment, arts and crafts booths, free children’s area.
Butterflies in the Pass Monarch Festival is a free event from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at War Memorial Park off U.S. 90 in Pass Christian. Speakers, educational exhibits, hands on activities for all ages and a walking parade at 10 a.m. for people and pets in butterfly regalia. Market in the Park will take place during the festival and will have butterfly themed items for sale.
Davis Bayou Kayak Program 10 a.m.-noon at Gulf Islands National Seashore, 3500 Park Road, Ocean Springs. Meet at the Davis Bayou public boat launch. One- and two-person kayaks and safety gear are provided free. A liability waiver is required. Must be able to row. Pets are not allowed on the kayaks.
Carter’s Champions Community Cruise-In is 4-10 p.m in downtown Gulfport. Music begins at 5 p.m. Event welcomes Cruisers to town. Food, free admission. Breast cancer awareness.
Sunset on Cancer 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run at 4:30 p.m. on Front Beach Drive in Ocean Spring, followed by lantern race at approximately 6:15 p.m. Dedicated to honoring cancer survivors and their families. Proceeds go to Singing River Cancer Fund and American Cancer Society’s Real Men Wear Pink Program.
Joyful Noise Music & Mural Festival, noon-8 p.m. at The District Green, 838 Howard Ave., Biloxi. Music, mural painting, VIP jazz brunch, arts and crafts, food vendors. Festival proceeds go directly to the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence.
Charmaine Neville Band at 8 p.m. Ground Zero Blues Club, 814 Howard Ave., Biloxi. The daughter and niece of the Neville Brothers plays a benefit concert as part of the Joyful Noise Music & Mural Festival to bring awareness to victims of domestic violence. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 day of show.
Shine-N-Brew festival, 6-10 p.m. on Coleman Avenue, Waveland, showcases area’s best craft beer, homebrewers, and cocktail mixologist. Kiln Shine, A Cut Above Bourbon and A Cut Above Rye Whiskey from Crittenden Distillery. Live entertainment by 3C Band, cornhole tournament plus beer and cocktail tastings. Benefits Hancock Resource Center for families in need. $30 admission.
Colt Ford performs at 8 p.m. at IP Casino Biloxi. Tickets start at $24.
We Are Messengers inspirational erformance at 8 p.m. at Immersive Media Performing Arts Center, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, 420 Debuys Rd, Biloxi. General Seating $20, Premier seating $30. Group tickets for 10 or more and VIP tickets available.
Saturday & Sunday
Fall Frenzy from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Pine Hill Nursery, 7434 Cuevas Road, Pass Christian. Face painting, petting zoo, llama kissing booth, pony rides, arts and crafts booths, food vendors, bounce houses, pumpkins and fall decorations. Aquarium in Motion can from Mississippi Aquarium will be there Saturday. Tickets are $5 and kids 3 and under are free. Children’s wristbands for day of activities are $25.
Sunday
Cruisin’ The Coast begins and continues for eight days. Opening day events are View the Cruise in downtown Gulfport, Cruise-In at Hardy Court Shopping Center in Gulfport and Cruisin’ Through the Decades and drive-in movie in Gautier.
Here is the full Cruisin’ The Coast schedule.
Monday
Southern Miss Cruisin’ is a new event from 3-5 p.m. on the front lawn of University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Park campus at 730 Beach Blvd. in Long Beach. The event is before the Long Beach Cruisin’ The Coast parade.
Monster Monday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at 100 Men Hall, 303 Union St., Bay St. Louis. Music, food and community. Kids welcome. $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
Tuesday
Salute to the Military, 8-9:30 a.m. at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi. Individual tickets to the 41st annual event salute to local military personnel and veterans are $45 and sponsorships are available.
Ongoing
Hancock County Fair is scheduled to run Wednesday through Saturday, Sept. 21-24, at the Fairgrounds in the Kiln.
“This year’s fair will be bigger and better than ever,” Hancock County Tourism Bureau Executive Director Myrna Green said this week.
There will be livestock exhibits, carnival rides, food and drinks from local restaurants, a 4-D barrel run, exhibition horse races, exotic animal and a high school rodeo. Saturday adds even more attractions with a stick horse rodeo, chicken auction and more.
Ship Island Excursions — Round trip service to Ship Island is offered, along with weekend dolphin cruises and sunset cocktail cruises that depart from Gulfport Harbor off U.S. 90 at the foot of U.S. 49 in Gulfport.
Dinosaurs Around the World:The Great Outdoors exhibit at Mississippi Aquarium 10 a.m.-5 p.m. thru Oct. 2. Ten life-sized, animatronic dinosaurs plus dino-themed crafts and activities. Adults $29.95 Children $24.95 Seniors $26.95
Haunted Bayou Cruise and Ghost and Cemetery Pub Walk at Bay St. Louis. Tickets must be purchased in advance at 228-363-9533.
Rumble on the Gulf, 5-9 p.m. Thursdays until Oct. 6 at Silver Slipper Casino, Hancock County. Motorcycles, jeeps, hot rods, antique and classic cars. Free.
Terror on the Coast thru Oct. 31 at The Warehouse, 3420 Giles Road, Gulfport. Hollywood-style haunted house in a movie prop warehouse. The 86,500 square foot haunted house has horror vignettes including a slaughter house and autopsy room. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 7-11 p.m. $25 per person. Food court opens at 5 p.m.
Southern Promiseland Corn Maze, 1212 Raygan Lane, Kiln. 10-acre corn maze, roping arena, cow milking simulation, hayrides, farm animals, concession, play and picnic area, pumpkin patch, grass maze, cow trains, and a one of a kinda unique Farm Scene Investigation. No smoking, masks or pets allowed at the maze. Open Oct. 1, 8, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30. Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 1-4 p.m. Weekdays by reservation only. Admission is cash only: $7 ages 3-11, $8 ages 12 & up, under 2 free with paying adult.
Save the date
Oct. 16 & 18 — Old Biloxi Cemetery Tour
Oct. 16-23 — Jackson County Fair, Pascagoula
Oct. 22 - Gautier Mullet Festival
Nov. 5-6 — Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival, Ocean Springs
Nov. 12-13 — Celtic Music Festival & Scottish Highland Games, Harrison County Fairgrounds
Nov. 19 — Gumbo Fest at Centennial Plaza, Gulfport
More upcoming events in South Mississippi and a list of Coast attractions are compiled by Coastal Mississippi, which promotes tourism across the three Coast counties.
