You thought Mardi Gras was held only in New Orleans. The Mississippi Gulf Coast has many Mardi Gras parades leading up to Ash Wednesday (February 14, 2024 – Valentine’s Day too). We have a large variety of parades (over 20) as the KREWS come from all over the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Cities host the parades on various days during the season.
All of the parades have something to offer spectators and you do not have to go far to attend one. Cities and communities on the Mississippi Gulf Coast support many Krewes who enter floats into parades that they sponsor along with local organizations.
You might see anything at a Mardi Gras parade
Parade Schedule- January-February 2024
The parade schedule was updated on January 3, 2024. Check back with us just before you plan to attend for any new information. Maps for parade routes are usually found on the City websites.
Come prepared
Bring your chairs and ice chests and stake your claim along with one of the parade routes. You are lucky you may be able to park our car and tailgate. Bring the family, it’s fun and more like a picnic with entertainment.
My favorites include the night parade in downtown Ocean Springs. This parade is entertaining, with lots of people having great fun. Night parades show off all of the lights.
Don’t miss the Biloxi parade, this is a big one with bands and performers from all over the country even from California. This parade starts at 1 PM on Fat Tuesday. Bring a bag for all of those beads you will collect.
If you are up for two on the same day
Try going to the Gulfport parade another big one that takes place at 5:30 PM on Fat Tuesday. This is the last parade of the season and it’s a ton of fun. You will have to move fast if you are at the Bay St. Louis or Biloxi parades which start at 1 PM, to attend one of those and the Gulfport parade as well.
We have a friend who loves the parades. Even when her husband is too tired to attend yet one more parade, she goes. We joke about the tons of beads that she has captured at the events.
About those beads
One of the reasons to go to a Mardi Gras parade is to accumulate stuff. KREWS throws out Mardi Gras-themed items and even some food. The idea is to catch the beads in the air. Sometimes they throw out so much the beads get caught in your hair and all over your face.
One year I caught a Twinkie and my wife caught a fancy bra. I thought that beads were nice until the food started appearing. Moon pies were good. At that point, I was hoping for someone to throw out a diet Dr. Pepper.
Mardi Gras is just the start
Christies would love to accommodate everyone from out of the area at one of our vacation rental properties. Unfortunately, we have only so many properties to go around so we suggest that you book in advance for 2025.
Mardi Gras is just the start of the fun you can have along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Try Cruzin-the-Coast or one of the many, many other events that occur during the year. We would love to have you stay with us to try one of our newest properties the Least Tern Nest which accommodates six very comfortably. It’s a house with a yard and parking steps from the beach.
Saint Patricks Day is another date for your calendar if you enjoy parades. Visit this site for more information. Don’t forget to visit our activities page on this site for more things to do while you are visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
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.
Crab
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.
Magnolia Place is your winter destination on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Located in beautiful Long Beach. Special pricing for Snowbirds. Particularly with stays over 90 days zero sales tax.
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.
Gulfport Harbor Light House
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.
Ferris Wheel
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.
Dancing Christmas Trees
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.
Jones Park and Gulfport Marina
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.
It is a fun place to visit. There are so many things to do it will be hard to know where to start. How about that beach? The casinos? Do you like to fish or boat? Where to begin, that’s the question.
You will need to eat so one of the first places you start is at one of our excellent restaurants. Try one that offers Gulf Coast cooking including shrimp, crab, and oysters. Gumbo and anything with crawfish is staples on the food front. After you have eaten your fill, why not take a walk on the beach. Try the Biloxi Boardwalk.
Have you ever been down a bayou? Go out on a boat and see live alligators in the swamp. This is a fun adventure and the operators guarantee that you will return safely. If taking a boat to see alligators is too much, visit the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Ocean Springs. You can walk around and see alligators in one or more locations.
Try fishing
Want to try your hand at fishing. Stop by a store and pick up some fishing gear. Try one of the public piers or just fish from the beach. There are about 200 species of fish in waters around the Mississippi Gulf Coast. You can also go out on a charter boat to catch some bigger fish. Leave from one of the marinas along the coast.
Catch a fish
Have you ever caught blue crabs? Buy a basket, drop in a chicken leg and lower it into the water. While you are taking pictures of the water and texting friends, our crabs will accommodate you by jumping in the basket. Take them to your vacation rental, boil them, and enjoy.
Rent a boat and navigate our bayous. These beautiful waterways are a unique experience you only see in the South. If you want, pull a blow-up toy around behind for the kids. The water is warm in the summer. Take your boat out to one of our islands for the day.
Is the Mississippi Gulf Coast a fun place
Yes, it is. If the above is not enough, keep reading. How about this for a day. Get up in the morning, and have your coffee or tea at a local restaurant. Eat a benet (a Southern delight) and stroll to the beach. Swim and layout on the sand. Get up, walk to a restaurant, and have a great meal of gulf shrimp overlooking the water.
Take a drive in the afternoon along U.S. 90 in either direction and look at the beautiful homes that face the water. Stop at one of the marina restaurants for a refreshing drink and a snack of fried pickles. Return home and get ready for the evening.
Drive over to one of the casinos that are offering free entertainment, have dinner and cocktails then try your luck or watch the entertainment. After, it’s off to bed to start a new day.
Boating on the Bayou
Take a boat to Ship Island
Want to spend a great day on the water. Take the boat to ship island from one of the marinas. Pack your lunch and beverages in an ice chest. Bring your 10×10 awning and towels. Take the ship to the island. Walk to the Southside of the island where waves and crystal clear water await.
You can take a walk around the island and return a few hours later. Perhaps it’s time to rent a jet ski on the beach. Drive around on your jet ski and enjoy our warm water. Jump off and do some swimming in shallow water just offshore. Then ride back and head out for dinner.
This evening, light a fire at your vacation rental fire pit or the beach. Hang around and enjoy the company of your companions. Buy some cooked crawfish, corn, and potatoes at Rouses and have your Boil.
Crawfish boil
Where to go from here
A great article about 22 things to do on the Mississippi Gulf Coast may help, click here to read it. You will need a place to stay and we recommend one of the properties on ChristiesGulfBeachRentals.com. Several of our properties are located on or near the beach.
if you are interested in property on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, visit Logan&Anderson, Gulf Coastal Realtors. You may find that buying a vacation home of your own is affordable on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
To read more about the Mississippi Gulf Coast, please click here it will take you to RetireCoast.com where you can dive into articles about the Coast, finance, and lifestyle subjects.
Are you still asking yourself Is the Mississippi Gulf Coast a fun place?
