Make the most of Memorial Day weekend in South MS with ceremonies, fireworks, fun
South Mississippi will mark Memorial Day with ceremonies to honor service members and celebrate American pastimes with baseball, barbecues and time on the beach.
The forecast for the weekend is more sun, with a chance of a thunderstorm on Monday. That’s good weather for making sandcastles on the beach, riding Ship Island Ferry out to the Gulf and devouring seafood at the festivals in Waveland and Biloxi.
Call ahead to a favorite Coast restaurant to order food for a picnic, or slip into the cool air conditioning and try the new Crave food hall at OS 1515 on Government Street in Ocean Springs or one of hundreds of other restaurants across South Mississippi.
Here are some great ways to enjoy Memorial Day Weekend on the Coast:
Ceremonies & Tributes
Flags at every stone at Biloxi National Cemetery set the tone for a solemn Memorial Day ceremony Monday with a wreath laying ceremony, music by the U.S. Army Band and an address by Col. Billy Pope, commander of 81st Training Wing at Kessler Air Force base. 9 a.m., 400 Veterans Blvd., Biloxi. Bring lawn chairs for seating.
All three hospitals in the Singing River Health System will hold community remembrance services at the flagpoles on Monday: at 9 a.m. on U.S. 90 in Pascagoula, at 10:30 on U.S. 90 in Ocean Springs and at noon at 15200 Community Road in Gulfport.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial at 3730 Bienville Boulevard in Ocean Springs will make a solemn backdrop for the 1 p.m. ceremony on Memorial Day to honor veterans.
Fireworks, festivals and fun
Fireworks are the Sunday finale of the annual St. Clare Seafood Festival in Waveland. It’s a three-day celebration of delicious food, carnival rides, music, classic cars and craft vendors.
Celebrate the oyster Saturday and Sunday at the annual Gulf Coast Oyster Cook-off & Festival, 121 Cadet St. on Point Cadet in Biloxi. Besides seafood, expect to be wowed by the Corvettes, Jeeps and bikes at the festival.
The Biloxi Shuckers are in town this weekend and double the fun comes Fireworks Friday. The game starts at 6:35 p.m., followed by the colorful fireworks display.
Sit under the trees at War Memorial Park in Pass Christian Sunday for Jazz in the Pass. The free concert and festivities run from noon to 8 p.m. off U.S. 90.
Or for something loud and fast, head to Mississippi Gulf Coast Memorial Day Blowout Friday through Sunday at Gulfport Dragway, 17085 Racetrack Road.
Treat the kids to the Thomas’ the Train 80th Celebration Saturday at TrainTastic! in Gulfport.
Want some music?
Lots of concerts are planned this weekend across the Coast. Here are some of the headliners:
Friday
▪ Black Stone Cherry at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi
▪ Lone Star Skynyrd — Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd at The Sanctuary, Biloxi
Saturday
▪ The Molly Ringwalds concert at Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast in Bay St. Louis
▪ DK Harell Blues Band performs at Ground Zero in Biloxi
▪ Laugh out loud at the Lunchbox Comedy Festival at The Sanctuary in Biloxi
Sunday
▪ Live blues performance by Bobby Rush at 100 Men Hall, 303 Union St, Bay St. Louis
Looking for more suggestions? Coastal Mississippi has a big calendar of ideas for Memorial Day Weekend events, shopping, attractions and places to eat in South Mississippi.
