It’s a one in a million Labor Day weekend in South MS, with fun & events, rain or shine
Labor Day Weekend is the unofficial end of summer and kickoff to fall festivals in South Mississippi, and this year the forecast is for a little rain and a lot of fun.
One lucky person on Saturday will become the one millionth visitor since Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport opened in 2020. That person will be revealed at around 9:45 a.m., during the start of The Changing Tides Festival that celebrates the anniversary of the aquarium and salutes the Coast for its growth since Hurricane Katrina.
“Entertaining and educating one million guests is such an amazing accomplishment and it’s so special that it lined up perfectly with our fourth anniversary,” said Patrick Pearson, vice president of sales and marketing.
The one millionth person will receive an ultimate prize package, and the first 500 people who arrive Saturday will get a free commemorative water bottle.First responders and military personnel will get free aquarium admission through Monday, Sept 2.
While the sun is shining, South Mississippi has fishing, golf, boating, waterparks, go-karts and ziplines to try.
The weather forecast is for rain part of the weekend, so the shops and indoor attractions also will be busy offering locals and visitors fun reasons to get out of the house and hotel rooms.
Boats, trains, rockets and planes
Rain or shine, Coast attractions will educate and entertain those who live in South Mississippi and those who’ve come for a visit. Here’s a sample:
Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum in Biloxi, (Open Monday-Saturday 9-4:30, Sunday Noon-4), tells the story of the days when Biloxi was known as “the seafood capital of the world.”
TrainTastic in Gulfport (Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Open Labor Day) is fun for generations who rode the rails or played with trains and Legos.
Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum is just down the street from Traintastic in Gulfport (Open Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 12:30-5 p.m.), and delights visitors with the tales of the Brown Condor and other adventures
Infinity Science Center at Exit 2 of I-10 in Hancock County (Open Thursday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.) shows adults and kids South Mississippi’s part in the race to the race to the moon and now beyond.
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport (Open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday noon-5) delights small kids with hands-on fun.
Other ideas for daytime, nighttime and rainy day fun in South Mississippi are trampoline parks, roller skating, movies and bowling. If rain chases kids from the rides at Paradise Pier Amusement Park at Margaritaville Resort Biloxi, they can Escape inside the video arcade with with games, a climbing wall and other fun.
Adults can go wine tasting or beer sampling at one of the Coast breweries before heading to the casinos, concerts and other nightlife.
Here are the highlights for Labor Day Weekend:
Weekend Events
Friday-Sunday — Gulfport Dragway, King of the Coast Bracket Series racing. The following weekend is Gulfport Dragway’s Inaugural No Prep September Showdown Sept. 6-7.
Nightly thru Sept. 1 —Biloxi Shuckers vs. Montgomery Biscuits Minor League Baseball game at Keesler Federal Park, 105 Caillavet St., Biloxi. Fireworks after the game Friday night. Tickets start at $15
Aug. 30-Sept. 1 — Booker Music Fest at 100 Men Hall, 303 Union St., Bay St. Louis. 6p.m. Tickets start at $30.
Friday
Friday at the Fort, 499 Front Beach, Ocean Springs, 6-9 p.m. Music, food trucks, craft vendors at the beach. Free admission.
Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay on Strings, 7-10 p.m. at Mary O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center, 1600 Government St., Ocean Springs. Tickets start at $29.
Elle King performs at 8 p.m. at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi. Tickets start at $49.
Yacht Rock: Ambrosia & Al Stewart perform at 8 p.m. at Hard Rock Casino Biloxi. Tickets start at $29.99.
Ivory’s Dueling Pianos at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. It’s the last sing-along of the season.
Saturday
Artwalk in Downtown Ocean Springs with art, music and food from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free
Labor Day Arts & Crafts Festival at Gulfport KOA Holiday, 14031 U.S. 49 North, Gulfport, 11 a.m.-5p.m. $10 admission
Blue Mother Tupelo entertains starting at 6 p.m. at The Shed Barbecue & Blues Joint, 7501 Highway 57, Ocean Springs. Free admission
Sam Forshey Blues Band at Ground Zero Blues Club, 814 Howard Ave., Biloxi, 7-10 p.m. Tickets start at $17.50.
Sunday
Tequila Sundays Pool Party at Hard Rock Casino Biloxi, for ages 21 and older. Noon-7 p.m. Admission $30, or free to hotel guests.
Margaritaville Night at the Park. Biloxi Shuckers will honor Coast native Jimmy Buffett with custom jerseys with a Biloxi twist, Margaritas and Buffet-inspired food, happy hour and music. First pitch at 5:05 p..m. at Keesler Federal Park, Biloxi.
Coastal Mississippi website lists more events this weekend and into the fall.
Save these dates
Labor Day kicks off the fall festival season in South Mississippi. Here are the dates for the big upcoming events:
Sept. 19 — Mississippi Songwriters Festival and Hall of Fame Induction, Ocean Springs
Oct. 6-13 — Cruisin’ The Coast car show across South Mississippi
Oct. 18-20 — Inkin’ the Coast tatoo festival, Biloxi
Nov. 2-3 — Peter Anderson Festival, Ocean Springs
Nov. 9 — Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Music Festival at Harrison County Fairgrounds, 1Gulfport
