Dress and eat like a pirate. Get free food. May is a big month for Coast foodies
People can go out for a quiet dinner or they can be part of an experience as more South Mississippi cities and organizations provide ways to combine food and fun in their communities.
Pirate Day in the Bay, coming May 16-17 in Bay St. Louis is one of the town’s most eagerly anticipated events, as people of all ages dress and talk like pirates, parade in decorated golf carts, watch the fireworks and eat. The proceeds benefit various causes in the community.
“It really is fabulous,” said Suzanne Bertoniere, the marketing chairperson for the Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse that hosts the festival. It starts with a Friday Pub Crawl of 18 restaurants and bars in the city that stay busy all weekend. “The restaurants really enjoy it,” she said.
“Our culture in Hancock County is built on food,” said Anne Pitre, marketing and communications manager for the Hancock County Chamber. “We’re all just foodies down here.”
Celebrations of food & drink
Free Food Fridays kicks off May 2 in Ocean Springs and continues all month. Hosted by the Ocean Springs Chamber-Main Street, the promotion draws attention to the town’s thriving culinary scene.
“With the large number of locally owned restaurants and lounges in our town — more than 100 —this effort helps drive foot traffic, supports our culinary entrepreneurs and showcases the unique flavors that make Ocean Springs a true coastal destination,” said Cynthia Sutton, CEO of the chamber and Main Street.
The group is giving away gift cards to local restaurants through its Facebook page.
Highlighting food events all month encourages locals to explore new restaurants and invites visitors for an experience that might draw them back to Ocean Springs, Sutton said.
“It’s about building community, supporting small business and strengthening the local economy all at once,” she said,
So many restaurants to try
There wouldn’t be nearly as many restaurants or different cuisines to sample in South Mississippi without tourists to help support them all.
“Culinary tourism is one of the key pillars we promote in Coastal Mississippi, and it continues to be a major draw for visitors,” said Pattye Meagher, director of communications and engagement for Coastal Mississippi Tourism.
“From our deep-rooted heritage in fishing, shrimping, and oystering to our modern-day James Beard-nominated chefs and beachfront eateries, food is central to who we are culturally and as a destination,” she said.
South Mississippi’s farm-to-table and Gulf-to-table experiences have earned Mississippi a place in the new Michelin Guide American South, she said, “and we’re thrilled to welcome new travelers eager to discover the flavors of our Coast.”
Coastal Mississippi entices locals and visitors with its lists of places to eat and drink, and gives suggestions for and restaurants to try.
Here are some of the best food events to experience on the Coast in May:
Ocean Springs
▪ Already sold out is the Taste of Ocean Springs Food & Wine Festival. on May 15, but there’s time to make reservations to the first pop-up dinner May 3 at The Traveler, the new restaurant, art collective and gardens at Walter Anderson Museum of Art. The pop-up will continue regularly.
▪ Taco Fest in O.S. is a fiesta May 3 from 3-7 p.m. at Fort Maurepas on the beach, complete with the ultimate taco creation competition.
▪ Firefly Supper on May 31 is an elegant dinner with some of the finest chefs on the Coast. It’s a fundraiser for Walter Anderson Museum of Art. Admission is $200, and each course is prepared by a different chef and is paired with wine.
▪ Crawfish & Cornhole is May 2 at Mary C. O’Keefe Arts Center from 6-9 p.m. and admission is $50.
Bay St. Louis
▪ Wednesday at the Depot is from 5:30-8:30 p.m. May 21 and every third Wednesday through November at the historic L&N Train Depot Grounds in Bay St. Louis. The event is hosted by Hancock County Tourism and enjoy food from local vendors and the Stacy Weaver Band, this month’s free concert
▪ The Bay Fest on May 31 is a street fair from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. in Old Town, where people can eat and sip hand made cocktails, shop and dance. Free admission.
Biloxi
▪ Main Street Biloxi hosts another First Friday on May 2. “We don’t charge a fee,” said Kay Miller, executive director, who said people often dine at the local restaurant before or after the celebration that’s from 5-9 p.m.. Others hit up one of the food trucks. Fly Llama and Altered Reality breweries are right there and the musicians for the event are top notch, Miller said.
▪ Gulf Coast Oyster Festival & Cookoff, May 25 at Point Cadet, with food, music, vendors and Corvettes.
Moss Point
▪ River Jamboree from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on May 3 is a celebration of good food from local vendors, boat rides, train rides, music, an antique car cruise-in and a petting zoo.
Waveland
▪ St. Clare Seafood Festival, May 23-26 at St. Clare Catholic Church is a delicious Memorial Weekend tradition with food, music, rides, crafts and a classic car show.
This story was originally published May 2, 2025 at 1:34 PM.
