A must-attend event on the Mississippi Gulf Coast each year is the Christmas on the Water Boat Parade. Large and small boats line up at the south of the Biloxi lighthouse for the event. Boat owners decorate their boats for this annual holiday event. Boat owners spend hours decorating their boats with lights and decorations to celebrate the holiday spirit. This Christmas parade lasts about an hour and a half with plenty of Christmas music and individual light shows.
The event is scheduled for the first Saturday in December. This year the first weekend is on December 2nd at 6:00 PM. The parade lineup starts near the Biloxi lighthouse and goes East past the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi Small Craft Harbor, Schooner Pier Complex, Margaritaville, Golden Nugget Casino, Point Cadet Marina then turns towards the Seafood Industry Museum.
Some of the best viewing locations are the beach between Margaritaville and the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor. There are great viewing areas at the Beau Rivage, Golden Nugget, and the Point Cadet area.
Basically, the Christmas on the Water Boat Parade travels in the Mississippi Sound, between Deer Island and the beach plus Casino Row. The water is usually calm in the Mississippi Sound and the distance from the beach to the boats is short so you can get a great view of the boats. Some people take their private boats to Deer Island to watch them go by.
At the end of the parade, a fireworks display is started in the area between Margaritaville and the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor. The dazzling display is a great ending to the parade and the start of the holiday season. This is just one of many events that the City of Biloxi manages each year for its residents and visitors.
Attendance is of course free to all. I have watched the parade several times from different vantage points. One year from the top of the Beau Rivage, another from the beach near the Biloxi Schooner, and yet another from the parking garage of the Golden Nugget Casino.
This highly anticipated event brings many people outside to enjoy the parade and each other’s company. Don’t stop at the parade. After the fireworks show, drive to Gulfport for the Annual Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival at Jones Park on Beach Blvd at the Gulfport Harbor. The holiday lights at the Winter Festival and the Boat Parade should bring holiday cheer during this Christmas season. If you are a Snowbird visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Winter, these events are just the start to several months of things to do.
Don’t forget to wear warm clothing. Of course, if you are a Snowbird from the North, our winter may seem warm to you. Wear short sleeves and shorts. For those of us who live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, 55-degree weather in the evening may require a jacket. The weather on December 2 ranges from a high of 60F to an average low of 46F. Adult beverages are permitted on Biloxi beaches so bring your cooler, no glass bottles are allowed.
Just a few suggestions for making this a great day and evening. Go early, find a place to park, and stake your ground on the beach or casino. Watch the parade, see the fireworks display, and go to the Annual Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival (open until 10:30 PM, dancing trees until 9:00 PM) then on for a great dinner or nightcap.
There are several very good restaurants in the vicinity of both the Christmas on the Water Boat Parade in Biloxi and the Winter Festival in Gulfport. If you can not do both on the same day, plan on going to the Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival the evening before or after the event.
Consider taking the Biloxi Schooner to view the Christmas on the Water Boat Parade. The Schooner leaves the Schooner pier at 4:30 PM for a two-hour cruise with live music and snacks. $45 per adult and $25 per child. This is a great way to see the boats up close and enjoy the party atmosphere. Another great place to view the parade is from the deck of McElroys Harbor House Restaurant. The boats must pass directly by the elevated restaurant. Look down on the boats as they pass. The food is good and the bar is open.
Want more to do during Christmas and the winter season, check out this article:
Visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast and need accommodation to attend the Christmas on the Water boat parade? Check out ChristiesGulfBeachRentals.com to see our assortment of available vacation rental properties.