You’re more likely to find white sand than snowflakes on the Mississippi coast during the Christmas season, but there’s no shortage of celebrations to get you in the holiday spirit.
From Bay St. Louis to Pascagoula, coastal communities celebrate the season with illuminated boat parades, dazzling decorations and fireworks displays, musical entertainment, and, of course, a visit from Santa.
Below are some of the popular events held across the coast.
Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival
November 24th – December 31st (Closed on Christmas Eve)
According to OnlyInYourState.com, the Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival features more than 1.5 million colorful Christmas lights across 40 acres in Jones Park, earning it the title of “Mississippi’s Most Magical Show.” Masu.
Now in its ninth year, the festival was featured in the popular Lifetime holiday movie “Christmas in Mississippi,” and has attracted more than 200,000 visitors over the past two years. Many people come back to enjoy the new features added every year.
A central highlight of the festival is Santa’s Village, complete with animatronics and interactive reindeer. Santa Claus himself will be visiting guests every night except Christmas from 6pm to 10pm. Visitors can take free photos with Santa and share their wish lists. There are also fun carnival rides, a station offering a journey on the Festival Train, and a Dancing Tree Show that combines music and lights in a dazzling display.
If you go:
- Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival
- 2269 Jones Park Drive
- November 24th to December 31st, excluding Christmas Eve
- 5:30pm – 10:30pm
- General admission $15 – $20
- Children ages 5 to 12 are $5, and children 4 and under are free.
- Purchase tickets online at https://www.showclix.com/event/gulfportharborlights2023 or at the box office.
- Free parking is available in the Coastal Transportation Authority parking lot and at the west entrance of Jones Park, both of which offer accessible spaces and shuttle service.
- For more information, please visit www.gulfportharborlights.com.
Christmas at Beau Rivage
Beau Rivage, MGM Resorts International’s beachfront resort in Biloxi, is a popular vacation destination known for its winter wonderland decor and seasonal entertainment. Thousands and hundreds of poinsettia trees and eight-meter-tall Christmas trees create a memorable holiday experience for visitors of all ages. Seasonal decorations will be on display throughout the holidays.
Beau Rivage is also offering two fun creations as part of its holiday celebration. Mississippi Gulf Coast Ballet Theater will present the classic “The Nutcracker” in matinee and evening performances on Sunday, Dec. 3.
The Broadway-style musical variety show “Finding Christmas” returns to the Beau Rivage Theater stage from December 15th to 27th, with two performances each day except Monday, December 18th.
If you go:
- Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
- 875 Beach Boulevard
- biloxi
‘The Nutcracker’
- December 3rd
- 2pm and 6pm
- Tickets start at $21.35 excluding tax
“Looking for Christmas”
- December 15th to December 27th
- 3pm and 7pm every day except Monday, December 18th
- Tickets start at $13.86 excluding tax
- If you are under 21 years of age, you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is 21 years of age or older at all times.
- For more information, visit www.beaurivage.com or call 888.567.6667.
Biloxi’s Christmas on the Water Boat Parade
December 2
The 38th annual boat parade along Biloxi’s waterfront features 35 to 40 boats of all shapes and sizes decorated with holiday lights and fanciful decorations. The parade begins at the Biloxi Lighthouse and heads east to the Golden Nugget Casino, where the boats turn around and return to the Biloxi Yacht Club. At the end of the parade, fireworks light up the sky. According to organizers, the best places to watch the parade are between Biloxi Small Craft Harbor and Casino Row, and between Biloxi Lighthouse and Beau’s Rivage Resort & Casino.
If you go:
- Biloxi’s Christmas on the Water Boat Parade
- biloxi waterfront
- December 2
- 6 pm
Christmas at River City Moss Point
December 2
The Moss Point Christmas by the River Boat Parade is the grand finale to the River City’s all-day Christmas celebration. The boat parade begins at 5:30 p.m. and features holiday-decorated boats on the Pascagoula River at Riverfront Park.
The day’s activities begin at 9 a.m. at the Audubon Christmas Marketplace at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center. At 1 p.m., the Main Street Christmas Parade begins at Southgate Shopping Center and heads to Riverfront Park.
If you go:
- Christmas in River City
- moss point
- December 2
- For more information, call 228-475-7887.
Christmas in Bayou Gulfport
December 9th
First held in 2000, the Lighted Boat Parade is recognized as a Top 20 event in the Southeast by the Southeastern Tourism Association. The parade begins at 6 p.m. at Gulfport Lake and continues down Bernard His Bayou and then down the Industrial Trail and back to Gulfport Lake. Public viewing is available at Gulfport Lake, James Hill Park, and several waterfront restaurants.
If you go:
- christmas on the bayou
- gulfport lake
- December 9th
- For the latest information, please visit www.christmasonthebayou.org or our Facebook page “Christmas on the Bayou — Gulfport, Mississippi.”
community christmas celebration
Almost every city along the coast has its own festival to spice up the holiday season, and one of the longest-running holiday celebrations is in Pascagoula. Downtown for the Holidays has been running for over 20 years.
This year’s event will be held in downtown Pascagoula on Dec. 1 from 5 to 8 p.m. The event begins with the lighting of the community Christmas tree at the corner of Delmas Avenue and Magnolia Street at 5 p.m., followed by performances by local dance groups, choirs, and theater groups. At 7:30 p.m., Pascagoula native Jimmy Buffett’s Christmas Parade of Lights begins with a special tribute to his Buffett. There will be activities for all ages, including cookie decorating, carriage rides, and photos with Santa. The Flagship District is home to many downtown shops and restaurants that will be open with special menus for Christmas shoppers.
If you go:
- Downtown enjoying the holidays
- pascagoula
- December 1st
- From 5pm to 8pm
- For more information, please contact susannah@mainstreetpascagoula.com.