There are many reasons to visit the Mississippi Gulf Coast during the Fall and Winter, here is a great one. The City of Gulfport and the Island View Casino Resort offer the Gulfport Harbor Light Winter Festival for everyone to visit. This has been billed as the best unique winter event in the State of Mississippi. Come see not only static displays of lights in the shape of sea creatures but also a wonderful dancing lights event powered by artificial intelligence.
The event is held each November through December just off of Jones Park Drive across from the Mississippi Aquarium. Free parking is available at the West entrance of Jones Park and in the Coast Transit Authority parking garage adjacent to Jones Park. It’s easy to get into and out of the area. I recommend that you make a day of it or even two nights and a day.
The Schedule
The schedule for 2024 is November 25 – December 31 except for Christmas Eve. The hours of operation are 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM (weather permitting). See the Google Earth rendering at the bottom of this article for the exact location of Jones Park on U.S. 90.
Start by going to the Mississippi Aquarium during the day. Enjoy the Aquarium and perhaps lunch at one of the close by restaurants. After the Aquarium, spend time walking on the beach which is adjacent to Jones Park and the Aquarium. Walk through the harbor and check out the boats.
Places to stay
Drive a few miles East or West back to your Christies Gulf Beach Rentals vacation location and rest up for a great night at the park. Before I describe the goodies you will see at the Harbor Lights Winter Festival, take a minute to look at a couple of our great properties that you can rent for a weekend or longer. The owner of Gulf Coast Marvel Condo is offering two adult admission tickets to the Harbor Lights Winter Festival for one party that books this property prior to November 1.
The Gulf Coast Marvel Condo is a great place for up to four individuals. If you have a larger party, consider staying at the Beach n’ Bungalow, a house that can accommodate a large group. You will love the fenced yard and beautiful layout of this property.
Free admission promotion
Another property we recommend is Octopus Garden, this is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhome located near the beach. The owners have agreed to offer two tickets to the first group who books before November 1 at the ChristiesGulfBeachRentals.Com website. Free vacation travel insurance is also offered at this site.
Now that you have a place to stay during your visit to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, it’s time to talk about the fun. You need to bring the whole family because everyone will love the Festival. I mentioned that the owners of our vacation homes will provide free tickets per their offer.
General Admission
General admission will cost $15. $5 for children ages 5-12 and free for any child age 4 and under. Tickets can be purchased online and at the box office. (This article will be updated with the web address for buying tickets online)
There are ride tickets available which are separate from the entrance fee and cost between $3 and $6 for carnival rides including a Ferris wheel. Santa’s village is free and children can see Santa Claus among the light displays.
Live entertainment including local bands is offered on some evenings on the Harbor Lights Stage. The Festival is open on Christmas Day. I understand that new rides may be added this Christmas Season. They install new lights and even offer the express train. Kids love the merry-go-round carousel and the Santa Express tour train. The area covered by the light show is very large. The paved sidewalk winds through the displays making it easy to get around even with a wheelchair.
About the Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival
The festival began in 2015 as a partnership between the Island View Casino & Resort and the City of Gulfport. The festival attracted over 100,000 visitors in its first year. In 2022, the festival had over 215,000 visitors.
In addition to the light displays, the festival also features a variety of other attractions, including:
- Carnival rides
- A train ride
- Santa’s Village, where visitors can meet Santa Claus and his elves
- A “Dancing Trees” show
- Food and drink vendors
The festival is open to the public and admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-12. Children under 3 are free. There are also discounts available for seniors, military members, first responders, and teachers.
Here are some statistics about the Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival:
- Over 1.5 million lights
- 40 acres of light displays
- 215,000 visitors in 2022
- 7 years in operation
The dancing Christmas trees must be seen
The dancing trees that I mentioned above are without doubt the highlight of the entertainment at least for adults. The Winter Festival is a magical show, the lights move from one tree to another in sync with the music. It’s difficult to describe so I have included a short video here to prove my point. It’s a spectacular light show, the work behind the scenes to make this all happen is amazing.
People all around you are having fun. People leave discussions of politics and problems at home. Christmas spirit is all around you at this festival. I almost forgot to mention the hot chocolate. You may be reading this during a warm part of the year which seems like it is all year but we do have a few cold days in December. I laugh when I come out at night because it is one of the rare occasions when I am not wearing shorts. The thought of hot coffee or hot chocolate hits the mark.
The first year my wife and I went to the Festival, we found ourselves in a long line to get fair junk food. We finally got to the window and I ordered chili cheeze chips and cheezy curly fries. Tons of calories but they taste great after working up an appetite with all those steps.
Refreshments even for adults
Fortunately, there are refreshments including ones for adults. Very clean restrooms are scattered around so no problem for those with children or some of the older folks. The free heated trolley is offered for all but seniors like it when they have walked for miles.
We have sat by the fire pits to relax. Parents and children roast marshmallows over the pits as well. This is where all of that hot chocolate goes.
Book your stay for more than a weekend
Without a doubt, the annual Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival is a great attraction and one of the many fun things that you can do on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in winter. Did I mention that those of you who live in the New Orleans area, are more than welcome to spend a weekend with us? Stay through New Year’s Eve for some of the casino celebrations and entertainment.
Snowbirds should book for more than a weekend. I recommend adding in Christmas and New Year’s Eve into your travel plans. ChristiesGulfBeachRentals.com offers a discount for two weeks or longer to Snowbirds.
If you decide to park in the Coast Transit Authority garage, some shuttle buses will take you to and from the Festival. The walk is not long but if you are tired after walking for hours, it may be a good idea to take the bus which can be found near the ticket booths on the East side of the park.
Dress warm if the weather requires it. The few times we have been to the Winter Festival the weather was great. It was cool without wind. And bring an appetite. Leave the diet at home and have some curly fries.
More information
The Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival has a website. As of this posting, it has not been updated for 2023. We will make any changes to ticket prices and methods to obtain them when the information is available.
Details about Jones Park
- Marina: The Jones Park Marina has 319 slips and can accommodate boats up to 80 feet in length. The marina also offers a variety of amenities, including a fuel dock, bait shop, and restrooms.
- Splash pad: The Jones Park Splash pad is a great place for kids to cool off on a hot day. The splash pad features a variety of water features, including sprays, jets, and a dumping bucket.
- Playground: The Jones Park Playground is a large, well-equipped playground that is perfect for children of all ages. The playground features slides, swings, climbing structures, and a sandbox.
- Amphitheater: The Jones Park Amphitheater is an outdoor amphitheater that hosts a variety of concerts, festivals, and other events throughout the year. The amphitheater has seating for over 1,000 people.
- Walking track: The Jones Park Walking track is a 0.86-mile paved track that winds through the park. The walking track is a popular spot for visitors to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors.
Please check out our Activities tab on the menu for information about more things to do on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Christies offers a variety of properties for your use while you are staying on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Most are located very close to the beach. Reserve your stay on our site and you will receive vacation rental insurance at no additional charge.