For 2026, the holidays arrive early and stay late on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. From November through New Year, Coastal Mississippi’s three counties light up with nine festive parades, markets, concerts and waterfront traditions that have defined the region’s holiday season for decades. Travelers planning a trip this winter can build an itinerary around any (or a pick of several) of the following events:
- Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival (November 27–January 2, Jones Park, Gulfport): Mississippi’s largest Christmas light show illuminates over 40 acres with carnival rides, a holiday train, Santa’s Village, and the signature “Dancing Trees” show.
- Christmas in the Bay (November 28, Historic Train Depot, Bay St. Louis): Old Town Bay St. Louis kicks off the season with festive shopping, local artisans, and family activities – capped by the community’s Christmas parade.
- Deck the Halls — A Community Christmas Celebration (December 3, Gulfport City Hall): Gulfport lights its city Christmas tree with holiday music, festive refreshments, and a visit from Santa.
- Biloxi Lighthouse Lighting (December 3, Biloxi Visitors Center): The city’s Christmas season officially begins as the Biloxi Lighthouse switches on in holiday red and green, with Santa, hot chocolate, and cookies on hand.
- Annual Tree Lighting with Santa at the Mary C. (December 3, Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center): Ocean Springs rings in the season with live music from the Coast Big Band, treats, art demonstrations, and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
- Downtown for the Holidays (December 4, downtown Pascagoula): Pascagoula’s Flagship District lights its community tree and rolls its Christmas Parade of Lights, with Santa, the Grinch, and live performances.
- Christmas in the Pass (December 4, downtown Pass Christian): Marking its 40th year, this Pass Christian tradition features a 6 p.m. parade, the city’s Christmas tree lighting, and visits with Santa.
- TrainTastic Holiday Lights (Fridays and Saturdays starting December 4, TrainTastic): More than 2 million lights transform the Gulfport museum’s outdoor train ride into a winter wonderland, with crafts, hot chocolate, and s’mores inside.
- Sea Santa Sail-A-Bration (December, downtown Long Beach): This beloved “waterless” boat parade rolls decorated boats on trailers through town, followed by a Town Green celebration with a decorated boat show, Santa photos, tree lighting, and a human snow globe.
- Silent Light Festival (December 5-6, Walter Anderson Museum of Art): Downtown Ocean Springs transforms into an illuminated wonderland of art, music and a silent disco, with animated projections of Walter Anderson’s work lighting up the museum campus.
- Phil Quigley Discover Christmas Parade (December 6, downtown Ocean Springs): This toy-drive parade brings holiday floats, costumed characters, and a community-wide spirit of giving to the streets of Ocean Springs.
- Christmas on the Water Boat Parade & Fireworks (December 6, Biloxi): Marking its 41st year with a “Disco Glow Christmas” theme, Biloxi’s signature holiday tradition sends decorated boats from the Biloxi Lighthouse to Point Cadet, capped by a fireworks display over the Mississippi Sound.
- Christmas on the Avenue (December 11, Howard Avenue, downtown Biloxi): Returning for its second year, this downtown Biloxi extravaganza showcases more than 150 lit Christmas trees along Howard Avenue with a grand lighting, a Santa parade and a weekend of family and pet-friendly festivities.
- Jackson County Fairgrounds Holiday Festival (December 12–13, Jackson County Fairgrounds, Pascagoula): Now in its third year, this family-friendly weekend brings Santa, the Grinch, holiday shopping, food trucks, and CASA’s Touch-A-Truck to Pascagoula.
- Christmas on the Town Green (December 12, Diamondhead City Hall): Diamondhead’s annual festival opens with a parade from The Club at Diamondhead to City Hall, where Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by fire truck for photos, train rides, and holiday activities.
- The Matzo Ball (December 12, 100 Men Hall, Bay St. Louis): Held on the 8th night of Hanukkah, this Hanukkah mash-up fills the historic 100 Men Hall with a tiki menorah, latkes and Jewish deli fare, holiday cocktails, a matzo ball toss, and live music.
- Annual Second Saturday Santa Stroll (December 13, Historic Old Town Bay St. Louis): Shoppers spend the day in the Bay for holiday specials, decorations, and selfies with Santa as he strolls through Old Town, with an after-hours Sip & Shop from 5–8 p.m.
- Mistletoe & Main Street (December 18–19, downtown Gulfport): This two-day street fair fills Main Street with local arts and crafts vendors, live music, holiday shopping, and free photos with Santa.
- Jingle Crawl (December 18, Flagship District, downtown Pascagoula): Tacky Christmas attire is encouraged for this bar crawl through Pascagoula’s downtown, with crawl cards available for pickup before the jingling begins.
- 5th Annual Winter Solstice Lantern Parade & Beach Bonfire (December 21, Bay St. Louis): On the longest night of the year, community members carry lanterns through Bay St. Louis in a parade that has wrapped past years with live music and a celebration at the historic 100 Men Hall.
- The Molly Ringwalds Ring in the New Year (December 31, Beau Rivage Theatre, Biloxi): ’80s tribute band brings a high-energy night of new wave, pop, and rock anthems to close out the year, with doors opening ahead of a midnight countdown.
“There’s no better way to see the Mississippi Gulf Coast than through the holidays lens,” said Judy Young, CEO of Coastal Mississippi Tourism. “From tree lightings to lively parades and opportunities for locals and travelers to connect over the holiday spirit, each of our communities brings its own flavor to the season. This year, everyone is invited to make a new holiday tradition on our beautiful Coast.”
For more information on the countless ways to explore Coastal Mississippi during the holidays, or to plan a trip today, please visit CoastalMississippi.com or follow @PlayCoastalMS on social media.
About Coastal Mississippi: Coastal Mississippi is the organization charged with promoting South Mississippi as a tourism and convention destination worldwide. Its mission centers on attracting ever-increasing numbers of leisure, convention, sports, and business travelers to the area. It is dedicated to maximizing the travel and tourism industry for South Mississippi. Visit CoastalMississippi.com to learn more.
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