Peter Anderson Fest in Ocean Springs will draw 400 vendors. Here’s all you need to know
In much of the country the first weekend in November is remembered as time to set the clocks back. In South Mississippi, it’s celebrated as time for Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival in downtown Ocean Springs.
Last year’s festival drew an estimated 150,000 people over the two days. Presented by Blue Moon, it’s the largest arts and crafts festival in Mississippi.
More than 400 artists, crafters and food booths will set up under the oaks, and businesses along Washington Avenue and Government Street welcome people to shop and dine and watch football.
This is the 46th year for the festival that started in 1978 and in 1984 was named for Ocean Springs artist Peter Anderson. The festival T-shirt art was created by Chris Stebly, who is Walter Anderson’s grandson and will have a booth at the festival.
Visitors can watch artists and crafters demonstrating their work, and look for the Young at Art Children’s area on Washington Avenue and the Hands On Kids Area at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center on Government Street. Plinko can be played outside the Mary C., with prizes from Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers.
Here’s what you need to know about navigating the festival:
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-5p.m.
Admission: Free, although a $2 donation is requested
Vendor list: Vendors from across the Southeast and other parts of the country will sell art, pottery, jewelry, photography and more. It’s also a good time to start Christmas shopping, with treasures like paintings, photographs, jewelry and glass. There’s always something unusual and eye-catching that is a hit at the show.
Food and drink: The many restaurants in downtown Ocean Springs will have festival specials and some will be selling food and drink along the street. Food trucks will add to the choices and always popular are homemade ice cream, kettle corn and the booth selling fudge and nuts
Entertainment will be spread throughout the festival venue this year. Look for music signs.
Getting around: Streets around the downtown will be closed to traffic from 3 a.m. Saturday through 7 p.m. Sunday for the street festival, and no golf carts, skateboards or bicycles will be allowed in that area. There will be plenty of kids pulled in wagons and pushed in strollers.
Parking: Those who arrive early may be able to find street parking near the festival. Free park and ride areas are provided by Ocean Springs School District in partnership with the MS Gulf Coast YMCA and Coast Transit Authority. Free parking and shuttles are available. Park at the Ocean Springs Upper Elementary and Oak Park Elementary off of Government Street and Holcomb Boulevard and at the Greyhound Stadium. Shuttles will deliver to the Government Street entrance or Porter Avenue entrance next to City Hall.
Handicap parking and dropoff: Handicap parking is available by City Hall and Ocean Springs Library off Porter Avenue.
This story was originally published October 29, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
