13 Christmas Light Displays In Mississippi That Are Pure Magic
Is there anything more nostalgic than riding around to look at Christmas lights during the holiday season? Dazzling displays abound here in Mississippi, as evidenced by the following 13 dazzling, delightful displays. With so many amazing places to experience holiday lights here in the Magnolia State, you’ll want to start planning a season of fun ASAP! From renowned light shows to local favorites, if you’ve been wondering about Christmas lights near me, here are the best displays of Christmas lights in Mississippi, guaranteed to make your holiday pure magic.
A newer addition to the Mississippi holiday lights lineup, the Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival is already a local favorite. Beginning in 2015, Island View Casino & Resort and The City of Gulfport collaborated to bring a Winter Holiday Festival to the Mississippi Gulf Coast unlike any other holiday show in the State of Mississippi. Visitors can enjoy carnival rides, visit with Santa Claus, and hop on a train at the Train Station. This is a delightful event the whole family is sure to love. Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival begins at the end of November and typically goes through New Year's. For more information, visit the official event website.
Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival, 2269 Jones Park Dr, Gulfport, MS 39501, USA
In Natchez, Mississippi, the festive fun typically begins the Friday after Thanksgiving with the annual Lighting of the Tree and continues through New Year's Day with city-wide celebrations, which include tours of the beautifully decorated historic homes that fill Natchez. For more information, check out the event website.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Unfortunately, the decision has been made to permanently close this attraction. This drive-through display is made up of over 300,000 sparkling lights and synchronized to music, but the fun doesn’t end there. In addition to train rides and hot chocolate, Santa Claus stops by nightly for photos. This must-see display is located at 350 Moley Wise Road in Waynesboro and typically runs from the end of November through the month of December.
Attracting more than 30,000 visitors a year, this dazzling display is made up of millions of lights. The annual light show is open from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve and is a must-visit holiday event. Christmas in the Park is held at Holmes Water Park, which is located at 65 Old Highway 98 East in Tylertown. For more information, click the event's Facebook page.
During Canton’s annual festival, the Historic Courthouse Square is set aglow with over 200,000 glittering lights. The much-anticipated festival also includes parades, train and trolley rides, the Merchant's Open House, Carousel on the Square, and Canton’s Magical Animation Museum, which is filled with 135 life-sized holiday figures. The Victorian Festival is typically held from the end of November through December, but exact dates vary by year. to help plan your trip to these Christmas festivities, visit Canton's tourism website.
From November through New Year's, Mississippi's enchanting Bay St. Louis will be transformed into a magical coastal wonderland, thanks to the Snowflakes in the Bay festival. Aside from holiday-themed activities, such as tree-lightings, concerts, and ice skating, the annual event also means the city's beautiful, century-old Live Oak trees will be decked to the nines with glowing, sparkling snowflakes. For more details, check out the event website.
During the Christmas season, the small town of Yazoo is set aglow as the city’s Main Street is adorned with colorful lights. And the best way to see those lights is by taking a carriage or trolley ride through Yazoo’s downtown. The city’s Yuletide celebrations typically begin the first weekend of December. For more information, visit Yazoo City's website.
Editor's note: This light show was canceled in 2021 and no information has been released for the upcoming year. Follow this event's Facebook page before you go to make sure you have the most up-to-date information!
For well over a decade, the Richardson Light Show has been illuminating the city of Madison. The free-of-charge Christmas celebration includes more than 200 inflatables, over 100,000 LED lights, hundreds of lighted wireframe characters and messages, and a 23-foot animated tree. The Richardson Light Show is located at 219 Sundial Road in Madison, Mississippi.
Held in Central Park, Southaven’s annual drive-through display encompasses 116 acres adorned with 500,000 twinkling lights. While visiting this local favorite, be sure to check out the Christmas Tree Farm, which is synchronized to music by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The amazing light show is a must-see and is generally open from Thanksgiving until New Year's Eve. For more information on this event and all other Christmas festivities, visit the DeSoto County website.
Each December, Beauvoir is adorned with thousands of sparkling lights and festive decorations, transforming the historic home into a must-visit winter wonderland. Aside from the lights, visitors at Beauvoir can enjoy a ton of other holiday activities, including wagon rides, photos with Santa, and more. The festive fun typically takes place on Fridays and Saturdays in December, with exact dates varying. For more information, visit the official Beauvoir website.
Typically held from the end of November through the end of the year, this annual light show takes place on select nights at Mississippi's Bettie D. Robertson Memorial Park
Collins. The spectacular Christmas light display is meant to honor both the birth of Jesus Christ and the heroes of the United States Armed Forces. There's no admission charge, however, donations are accepted at the exit gate. For more information, visit Covington's Chamber of Commerce website.
Robertson Park, 111 Thyer Dr, Collins, MS 39428, USA
For well over two decades, this family-operated light show has been getting people into the Christmas spirit here in Mississippi. Made up of over 200,000 lights and several pieces of original art, the larger-than-life display has actually attracted visitors from as far away as Canada, Europe, and Asia! The light show is located at 280 White Chapel Road, is free to attend (donations are accepted, however), and is open seven days a week, weather permitting, until the end of the year. For more information, check out the event's
Facebook page.
From Thanksgiving until Christmas, Lazy Acres Farm completely transforms into an epic winter wonderland that would make Elsa jealous! Holiday visitors can take part in a magical hayride that includes festive holiday scenes, thousands of twinkling lights, and the state’s largest hand-painted nativity scene. Lazy Acres Farm is located at 596 Lazy Acres Road in Chunky. For more information, visit the
Lazy Acres Farm website.
Lazy Acres Plantation Lodge, 140 Lazy Acres, Thomasville, GA 31792, USA
Lazy Acres Farm Fun, 596 Lazy Acres Rd, Chunky, MS 39323, USA
On or off this list, what do you think are the best displays of Christmas lights in Mississippi? Did your favorites make the list? If not, share your favorite light displays in the comments below — we love hearing from you! If you’re still curious about Christmas lights near me and up for an epic adventure this holiday season, why not take a road trip to see some of the most magical Christmas lights in Mississippi?
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The OIYS Visitor Center
best Christmas light displays in Mississippi
November 12, 2021
Sarah
What's Christmas like in Mississippi?
While we don't often (or, ever...) get a White Christmas, don't discount the Magnolia State during this festive season. Christmastime in Mississippi is perhaps the most magical time of year, with Christmas lights strewn up and down the main streets of small towns and big cities alike. Whether you visit a Christmas village, take a ride on a Christmas train, or head to a holiday drive-thru light park, our state definitely knows how to spread holiday cheer.
What are some fun holiday events in Mississippi?
In addition to checking out the best Christmas light displays in Mississippi this holiday season, you'll also want to visit one of our state's acclaimed Christmas towns. Here in Mississippi, visiting the North Pole is as easy as taking a trip to Landrum’s Homestead and Village in Laurel. A replica 1800s settlement, this charming attraction is open year-round, but it's most well known for the annual "Christmas at the Village" celebration that takes place at the end of November. The village comes alive with holiday cheer, from thousands of twinkling lights and festive décor to themed food and beverages and pictures with Santa. It's a true Mississippi winter wonderland, sure to make your season magical!
Are there any Christmas trains in Mississippi?
For families, nothing beats the experience of climbing aboard a Christmas train for an epic holiday adventure. Happily, you can do just that in Mississippi at the Batesville Christmas Train. This enchanting railway takes passengers on a magical journey to the North Pole to visit Santa and all of his trusty sidekicks. From getting your golden ticket punched by the conductor to sipping hot cocoa served by singing and dancing waiters, it’s an enchanting experience for kids from one to ninety-two. Just don’t forget to wear your most festive Christmas jammies!
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Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for the past 25 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as Parents & Kids Magazine and Girl Meets Strong. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
