Christmas is coming to the Coast: Plenty of events to celebrate the season

The big week is finally at hand. Christmas is one week from today and Santa will be making his rounds.

Before then, there are plenty of events on the Coast to spread Christmas cheer -- stage shows, ice skating, light shows and more, so check our list, check it twice and get out and have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

FRIDAY

Christmas at Beauvoir Family Night: 6-8 p.m., Beauvoir, 2244 Beach Blvd., Biloxi. Closed on Christmas Day. Tour the presidential home and enjoy crafts, photos with Santa, pony rides, hay rides, vendors, Christmas lights and more. Entertainment: A reading of Mark Vogl's "Confederate Night Before Christmas." Cost: $12.50 adults, $10 seniors, $7.50 ages 6-18. Free to ages 5 and younger. Details: 388-4400.

Ice skating: 6 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 18; 3:30, 6 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 19; 2, 4:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 20; 6 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 21-23; 3:30, 6 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 26; 2, 4:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 27; 6 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 28-31, Coast Coliseum, Biloxi. Tickets include admission and skate rental while supplies last. Purchase tickets in person at the box office 30 minutes before each session. Details/tickets: 594-3707.

"A Charlie Brown Christmas": 7 p.m. Dec. 18-19 and 2 p.m. Dec. 20, Salvation Army Kroc Center, 575 Division St., Biloxi. Cost: $10. Details: 207-1218.

Santa & Friends on Ice: 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 3 and 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Dec. 27, Beau Rivage Theatre, Biloxi. Professional skaters and other performers present seasonal classics. Snowfall at every show. Tickets start at $12.95 plus tax and service charge. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will also feature 3 p.m. performances.

Tours of Lights bicycle ride: 5:30 p.m., Pascagoula Recreation Center, 2935 Pascagoula St. Tacky sweater contest. Bike lights required and helmets recommended. Touring Pascagoula neighborhoods. Details: 938-2356.

A Very Merry Celtic Christmas: 6 p.m., Irish Coast Pub, 1307 25th Ave., Gulfport. Music, dancing and food. Irish dancing from Maccrossan School of Irish Dance and Celtic; Southern and Christmas tunes. Kids are welcome. Santa appearance.

Special Needs Christmas dance: 6-9 p.m., Donal Snyder Community Center, 2520 Pass Road, Biloxi. Celebrate with friends and family. Door prizes and food. Security will be provided. Admission is an unwrapped gift of no more than $10, which will be donated to the Biloxi Police Department's Santa Wears a Badge Program. Details: 388-7170.

Pot-luck Christmas party: 6:30 p.m. doors open and 7 p.m. dinner and dance follows, Amour Danzar Ballroom, 9355 County Farm Road, Gulfport. Cost: $20 per person. Bring a gift to exchange and a covered dish. Reservations/details: 324-3730.

"Santaland Diaries": 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18-19 and 2 p.m. Dec. 20, Center Stage, 2670 Rue Palafox, Biloxi. Cost: $12. Details: 388-6258 or centerstagebiloxi.org.

SATURDAY

Breakfast with Santa Claus: 9-11 a.m., French Club of Biloxi, 182 Howard Ave. Details: 436-6472.

Biloxi Holiday Open House: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Biloxi Visitors Center, 1050 Beach Blvd. Local artists and crafters will be set up and selling their special creations. Pictures with Santa. Refreshments. Admission is free and door prizes will be given away. Details: 374-3105.

Christmas in the Park: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Turnkey Park in Forrest Heights Community. Toy giveaway, Santa Claus, refreshments, bounce houses, face painting and music. Presented by Gulf Coast Outreach and Leadership.

Toy giveaway: 11 a.m., Vernon Gilbert Elks Lodge, 636 Esters Blvd., Biloxi. Toys benefit the needy children in our community.

Campers' Christmas gift bag distributions: 1 p.m. Dec. 19 at Westside Park, Gulfport, and 1 p.m. Dec. 20 at Hiller Park, Biloxi. Shepherd of the Gulf presents this event for South Mississippi homeless and seeks community support to make gift bags. Drop off donations at Liberty Coffee House, 1270 28th St., from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Details: 871-7000. Tax-deductible donations can be made to Shepherd of the Gulf at any Hancock Bank or mail to Shepherd of the Gulf, P.O. Box 1000, Gulfport MS 39501. Details: 229-8980, 249-2339 or 954-695-5764.

Christmas at Beauvoir: 6-8 p.m. Saturdays through Thursdays, through Dec. 31, Beauvoir, 2244 Beach Blvd., Biloxi. Closed on Christmas Day. Enjoy the gardens and Christmas lights. Cost: $5 per car. Details: 388-4400.

Christmas Live Nativity Re-enactment: 7 p.m., Bay St. Louis Little Theatre depot grounds. Details: bsllt.org.

Christmas Mingle and Jingle: 7-11 p.m., Isiah Fredericks Community Center, 3312 Martin Luther King Drive, Gulfport. Tickets: $20. After-party follows at Club Blue Envy Lounge and Bar. Helping Adopt-A-Family from Salvation Army.

Belles and Buoys Christmas Dance: 7:30-10 p.m., Lyman Senior Citizen Center, 14592 County Farm Road, Gulfport. Callers will be Harry Case from Brookhaven and Cuer Fran Keller from Pensacola. Details: 363-2622.

SUNDAY

Santa Claus at the Fire Museum: 1-3 p.m., West End Hose Co. No. 3 Fire Museum, 1046 Howard Ave. Children invited to talk with Santa, enjoy snacks and listen to Christmas music. Bring your cameras.

Gingerbread house family decorating workshop: 2-4 p.m., Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, 246 Dolan Ave., Gulfport. Cost: $25 per family. Bring family and decorate a gingerbread house together. Details: 897-6039 or lmdc.org.

Holiday gala: 5 p.m., Pass Christian Public Library, 111 Hiern Ave. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Gala features Bon Operatit, New Orleans opera singers. Cost: $10 nonmembers younger than 17; free to those younger than 17. Light holiday refreshments. Details: 452-4596.

MONDAY

School's Out Holiday Camp: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 21-23 and 28-30, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, 246 Dolan Ave., Gulfport. Cost: $35 per day and $200 for six-day camp. Pottery, baking, gift making, arts and crafts and more. Designed for kindergarten to fifth grade. Space is limited. Details: 897-6039 or lmdc.org.

Holiday movie marathon: 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 21-22, East Central Public Library, 21801 Slider Road, Hurley. Hot chocolate, coffee and snacks. Details: 588-6263.

Winter break game day: 2-4 p.m. Dec. 21-23, Ina Thompson Moss Point Library. Play board games and video games. Hot chocolate, coffee and snacks. Details: 475-7462.

American Legion Post 42's Christmas Party: 6:30 p.m., St. Paul United Methodist Church, Wesson Hall, Porter Avenue, Ocean Springs. Exchange of gifts. Ladies should bring a gift for other ladies and the men should bring one to be exchanged for the men; $10 maximum. Details: 875-5233.

TUESDAY

Cookies for Santa: 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m., Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center, 1600 Government St., Ocean Springs. For ages 6-12. Cost: $10. Registration deadline is Dec. 20. Details: 818-2878.

Family movie matinee: 2 p.m., Pass Christian Public Library, 111 Hiern Ave. Free. Details: 452-4596.

Santa's story time: 5:30-7 p.m., Pascagoula Public Library, 3214 Pascagoula St. Bring the kids in their favorite pajamas to take photos with Santa. Enjoy stories, games, cookies and cider. Details: 769-3060.

ThursDAY

Feed My Sheep's Christmas lunch: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 2615 19th St., Gulfport. The soup kitchen will be closed Christmas Day.

Santa makes his rounds: After the good boys and girls have gone to sleep.

CHRISTMAS DAY

Gulf Coast Rescue Mission annual Christmas meal: Noon-4 p.m., 2750 Mission Lane, Biloxi, off DeBuys Road. Take-out meals available. Volunteers welcomed. Details: 388-3884 or 388-6364.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 7:26 PM with the headline "Christmas is coming to the Coast: Plenty of events to celebrate the season ."