What to do on MS Coast this weekend: Harry Potter Day, food crawls, Mother’s Day brunch
This is a week to celebrate in South Mississippi, with restaurants across the Coast going spicy on Thursday for Cinco de Mayo and families going out to brunch and dinner on Sunday for Mother’s Day.
Food also is a big draw for First Friday in downtown Biloxi and food extravaganzas coming next week in Gulfport and Ocean Springs.
May the Fourth events at Mississippi Aquarium and Harry Potter Day at Lynn Meadows Discovery Center are geared for family fun. For adults, a bathing suit competition is on at the Jeep, Car, Truck and Bike Fest in East Biloxi and dapper seersucker and flirty hats will be the preferred attire for watching the Kentucky Derby at the Derby Mixer at Hard Rock Casino Biloxi.
Here’s what’s happening:
Friday
First Friday Block Party, 5-9 p.m. in downtown Biloxi at Rue Magnolia and The District Green with live music, Music Bingo, vendors, food trucks and Fly Llama beer.
Raheem Devaughn performs at 8 p.m. at IP Casino Biloxi. Tickets start at $35.
Saturday
Harry Potter Day at Lynn Meadows Discovery Center complete with tricks, spells and the same charm that made the movies a phenomenon. Make your own magic wand and meet Harry and friends. Costumes encouraged. Activities included with museum admission. 10 a.m.-noon.
Touch a Truck at Long Beach Harbor (west), from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sponsored by Long Beach Chamber. Admission is $5, or free for kids under age 2. Ambulance, dump truck, utility truck with a lift, rescue boat and interact with the people who work with the equipment..
Rock-N-Roll Open Car, Jeep, Truck & Bike Show at Point Cadet, East Biloxi. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Live entertainment, swimsuit competition, food, automotive, arts and craft vendors, kid’s activities including fishing rodeo.
Free Flowin’ Fest at Pascagoula Beach Park. Noon-8 p.m. A day of free music, local artists, fireworks. Free admission.
Talk Derby To Me — Kentucky Derby Day Party, 1-4 p.m. at The Almanett Hotel & Bistro 1514 18th Ave., Gulfport. Tickets start at $75 and This event supports scholarships and programs.
Spicy Saturday de Mayo salsa tasting at Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum, 522 Pass Road, Gulfport. 2-4 p.m. Games and coloring for the kids. Event included in admission: $5 adults, $2 children.
Singing River Foundation Derby Mixer, 5-9 p.m. at Hard Rock Casino Biloxi. Watch the 148th Kentucky Derby, enjoy dinner, complimentary bourbon tasting, cash bar, and dance to music from Unfazed Show & Band. Proceeds benefit community members with health-related needs.
Upcoming highlights
Thursday, May 12 — Taste, Rattle & Roll, 5-8 p.m. at Fountains Square at Centennial Plaza, 200 Beach Blvd., Gulfport. Sponsored by Gulfport Chamber. Must be 21 or older to attend. Advance tickets (thru May 11) are $45 for individual or $80 for couple. $50 at door if tickets still available day of the event.
Thursday, May 12 — Taste of Ocean Springs Food Crawl, 6-8:30 p.m. at the L&N Depot and downtown Ocean Springs. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the Ocean Springs Chamber office at the depot while supplies last. Rain date is May 19. Must be 21 to attend.
Ongoing
Thru May 7 — May the Fourth Be With You at Mississippi Aquarium with daily programs. Learn more about Darth Gator and the Duck Side of the Force. On Saturday meet and greed with themed costumers. Adults $29.95 Children $24.95 Seniors $26.95 includes aquarium admission.
Thru May 8 — New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest continues for the final weekend.
Thru May 8 — “You Can’t Take it With You,” performed by Center Stage Theatre at 2670 Rue Palofox, Biloxi. Shows are Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday 2 at p.m. Tickets start at $22.50.
Thru May 8 — “Sponge Bob the Musical,” presented by Wings at Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, 246 Dolan Ave., Gulfport. Shows at 7:d0 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15.
May 10-15 — Biloxi Shuckers take on the Birmingham Barons in Minor League Baseball at MGM Park, U.S. 90, Biloxi. Games Tuesday-Saturday 6:35 p.m., Sunday 1:05 p.m.
Thru May 13 — Old McDonald’s Farm sand sculpture at Edgewater Mall, Biloxi. Sculptors begin work on a 75 ton sand sculpture inside the mall in front of JC Penney. Construction will continue through May 13 and the completed sand sculpture will be on display for visitors to see. Free
More musical performances and events are listed in the Coastal Mississippi calendar.
This story was originally published May 4, 2022 at 4:07 PM.
