Third-annual Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival starts Friday and runs through Dec. 31
Thanksgiving is Thursday, and it will soon be beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
That’s especially true at Gulfport’s Jones Park, U.S. 49 and U.S. 90, where the third annual Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
Shows will be nightly with gates open 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and shows ending nightly at 10:30 p.m.
Admission is $10 per person. Children 4 and younger are admitted free. Also, for $80 12 visitors can be admitted for the price of eight.
The harbor-front light show, which will be featured in a Lifetime Christmas movie titled “Christmas in Mississippi” slated to debut Dec. 9, will be open nightly through Dec. 31, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, featuring rides and live entertainment each night.
The event will feature a Santa’s Village under the Barksdale Pavillion every night 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. starting Friday and running through Dec. 23.
There will be plenty of Christmas music to keep you in the holiday mood, as well, and a Coast Transit Authority Trolley will be available for no extra charge to visitors who do not want to walk through the park.
There also will be hot chocolate and marshmallow concessions.
Rides are set up through the event and tickets are $1 each. Rides include Santa’s Big Wheel (four tickets), Carousel (three tickets), Trackless Tour Train (four tickets), Skyracer (three tickets), Santa Express Barksdale Train (three tickets), Santa Express Pedal Train (two tickets) and Thomas the Train Kiddie Train (one ticket).
The event is sponsored by the City of Gulfport and Island View Casino Resort with additional support by Coast Transit Authority.
Live Entertainment Schedule
Friday, Dec. 1: Big Fun Brass Band, 7-10 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 2: David Knorr Trio, 7-10 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 8: 1 Accord, 7-10 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 9: Jess Dance, 7-9 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 15: Coast Big Band, 7-10 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 16: The Moon Dogs, 7-10 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 17: Davis & Sax, 7-10 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 18: Hope Academy, 7-8 p.m.; Pass Road Elementary Choir, 8-9 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 19: Dave and Shari, 7-10 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 20: Midnight Magic, 7-10 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 21: Jesse Hill, 7-10 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 22: Davis & Sax, 7-10 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 23: Coast Big Band, 7-10 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 26: (To be announced)
Wednesday, Dec. 27: Dave and Sharri, 7-10 p.m.
Thrusday, Dec. 28: (To be announced)
Friday, Dec. 29: The Chitlins, 7-10 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 30: Midnight Magic, 7-10 p.m.
Scott Hawkins: 228-896-2424, @ScottHawkins4
3rd Annual Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival
Where: Jones Park, U.S. 90 and U.S. 49, Gulfport
When: 5:30-9:30 p.m. (show ends at 10:30 p.m.) nightly Friday through Dec. 31 (Closed Dec. 24-Dec. 25)
Phone: 228-868-5881
Price: Admission is $10 per person, children 4 and younger are admitted free; ride tickets are $1 each.
This story was originally published November 21, 2017 at 2:24 PM with the headline "Third-annual Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival starts Friday and runs through Dec. 31."