Posted in Mississippi
November 27, 2016
11 Winter Festivals In Mississippi That Are Simply Unforgettable
The holiday season has officially begun! And while it’s the most wonderful time of the year, it also tends to be pretty hectic. So, just to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the amazing festivals and events that are taking place in Mississippi throughout the holiday season, we put together a list of some of our favorites. Let the holiday fun begin!
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Visit the historic city of Vicksburg between now and January 1st (except for Christmas day) and you can take part in the Walking Holiday Spectacular. The family-friendly event begins at the McRaven house and includes an hour-long tour of the historic home, along with plenty of heartwarming Christmas stories. A perfect tradition to add to your holiday bucket list, tours take place nightly from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. For more information, click here.
Already one of the country’s “best Christmas towns,” according to Southern Living, Oxford is adding a new event to its holiday lineup, The Night of Lights. A self-guided tour, participants are provided with a map and led to homes across Oxford and Lafayette County that are adorned with “magical lights and festive decorations.” For more information, click here.
From December 15th to the 22nd, Meridian’s Industrial Heritage Museum transforms into Santa’s Christmas Factory, complete with holiday decorations, music, lights, a train ride for kids, and snow-covered play area. For more information, click here.
Each holiday season, the KCS Express sends its Holiday Express train on a 26-day journey throughout a variety of cities in the country. This year, the train will make several stops in Mississippi, between November 30th and December 4th. At each stop, visitors can board the festively-decorated train and visit with Santa and his elves. Don’t miss this free-to-attend event!
For more information, click here.
If you’re looking for a truly magical winter festival, you’ll definitely want to check out Canton’s Victorian Festival. The annual event runs until December 23rd and includes lots of holiday activities. From parades to old-fashioned carousel rides, The Victorian Festival is like something straight from a Hallmark movie. For more information, click here.
This December, head to Fulmer’s Farmstead on the1st, 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 9th and 10th, and you’ll get to experience a Christmas like no other, as the farm hosts its annual Christmas in the Orchard. Enjoy carriage rides, hayrides, carolers, tours of historical cabins, live banjo music, and much more. For more information, click here.
Held nightly from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm at Jones Park, this festival is currently underway and runs until January 1st. The family-friendly event offers all sorts of holiday fun, including a spectacular, multi-million dollar light show, which you can either walk through or view from aboard a heated trolley, photo-ops with Santa, rides, concessions, and live entertainment. For more information, click here.
For the past 30 years, this coastal community has been ringing in the holiday season with its annual Christmas in the Pass. This year, the holiday fun will take place on December 2nd, from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, and includes the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree, a holiday parade, lots of vendors, late-night shopping at local shops, and plenty of Santa sightings. For more information, click here.
On December 3rd, from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, the Mississippi Trademart Center in Jackson transforms into a shopping wonderland as nearly 200 vendors gather for this annual festival. Plan to spend some time at this much-anticipated event, where you’ll find traditional and contemporary crafts in wood, pottery, glass, fiber, metal, basketry, jewelry, and more. For more information, click here.
This annual festival is going on now and continues until January 1, 2017. Held in downtown Bay St. Louis, the anticipated event is free to attend and includes plenty of holiday decorations and nightly festivities for the entire family. For more information, click here.
Now in its 40th year, Hattiesburg’s Victorian Candlelit Christmas is the perfect way to kick off a magical holiday season. During the annual event, which is scheduled for December 10th and 11th, the city’s streets are lined with thousands of luminaries and homes and businesses that are beautifully decorated with garlands, festive bows, and sparkling lights. Between the horse-drawn carriage rides, historic home tours, and carolers, you’ll experience a picture-perfect Christmas from years long gone. For more information, click here.
What’s your favorite winter festival in Mississippi?
Looking for another festive activity to add to your holiday bucket list? Check out one of the top ten most unique Christmas displays in the entire country in, “You’ve Never Experienced Anything Like This One-of-a-Kind Christmas Display In Mississippi.”
