The 26^th Annual Coast Coliseum Summer Fair will take place June 7-17, 2012.  The fair is held in Biloxi, Mississippi and is known for being a family-friendly event that averages 45,000 attendees each year. 

Events that welcome all ages include the Exotic Animal Petting Zoo, swine races, Safari Acrobats, Splash Dogs agility competition, pony rides, and much more!

With fun for everyone, this fair features a host of diversions, rides, games, free shows, live music, contests, unique vendors, and delicious food.  There will be a Ferris wheel, water flume ride, and dozens of other rides. 

$20 armbands are available for purchase and will include unlimited rides at various times each day. Hours for the armband rides are as follows:

Mondays-Fridays: 5pm-10pm 
Saturdays: 1pm-6pm
1st Sunday: 1pm-6pm
2nd Sunday: 1pm-8:30pm -- extended hours!

See the full line up and schedule of events here.  Admission is free Sunday- Thursday and just $5 for adults on Friday and Saturdays.  Kids 12 and under are free every day.

Hours of operation are as follows:

Mondays-Thursdays: 5pm-10pm
Fridays: 5pm-11pm
Saturdays: 1pm-11pm
First Sunday: 1pm-10pm 
Second Sunday: 1pm-8:30pm 

Hope to see everyone out in Biloxi for this wonderful festival!

With Memorial Day Weekend quickly approaching, you may find yourself still looking for plans.  Look no further!   You can find events going on all around Mississippi this weekend that will be great for the whole family!

Gulfport, Mississippi will host the 11th Annual St. Ann’s Catfish Festival and Softball Tournament May 24- 27.  Enjoy great food, live entertainment, carnival rides, children’s games, Bingo, silent auction, $1k and $15k drawdown, fishing rodeo and much more.  Opening ceremonies kick off on Thursday at 6pm and the softball tournament will also begin at that time.  Hours are 5pm- 11pm on Thursday- Friday, Saturday 9am- 11pm, and Sunday 9am- 6pm.  The festival will be held at St. Ann Church grounds and admission is free.



The 30th Annual Gulfport Memorial Day Blowout will be taking place May 25-28.  This 4 day event offers a wide range of events such as five racing class with a prize purse worth over $17,000, a swap meet and flea market, nine bike show classes, live music, and eight other unique events to enjoy.  Most events are free and family friendly, however some events are recommended for adults only. Check out the hour-by-hour schedule here.

Southaven, Mississippi will be the host of the Memorial Day USSSA NIT May 25-27.  Fun for the whole family, you can watch young athletes, age 7-14, from around the country and 2,000 baseball teams compete at Snowden Grove Park for tournament play.  The complex is composed of 17 fields and has become a Mecca for budding athletes of the diamond.  Check out the detailed schedule here.

Party at the Point in Biloxi, Mississippi at the MS Gulf Coast Music, Arts, Crafts and Seafood Festival this weekend, May 25-27.  Headline entertainment features the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Buddy Guy, Sawyer Brown, and Lonestar!  There will be two stages, 19 top national acts performing live and over 100 vendors.  Enjoy some of finest Gulf Coast seafood that Mississippi has to offer as well as arts & crafts vendors, and much more.  Tickets day of show are $20, 2 day passes are $36, and 3 day passes available for $54.  Admission for children under 12 is free with paid adult.  Purchase tickets in advance here for a 10% discount.

The Dennis Day Music Festival will take place on Memorial day in Dennis, Mississippi.  A family friendly event, this festival will have food and live entertainment that everyone will enjoy.  The festival begins at 8am and will be held at Dennis Community Park.

There will be a Memorial Day Parade of Veterans and Memorial Service on Monday in Downtown Vicksburg at the Vicksburg City Auditorium.  The parade will begin at 10am following a route north along Washington Street to Jackson Street. The Memorial Service begins at 11:00 a.m. at the Vicksburg Auditorium. The Wreath Laying Ceremony begins at 12:30pm in the National Cemetery with a motorcade to the cemetery by way of Fort Hill Drive.  The Vicksburg Warren County Memorial Day Committee is the proud sponsor of this memorial.  The event is free and welcomes everyone.

Have a great and safe Memorial Day Weekend in Mississippi with whatever you choose to do!

It’s not too early to start making New Year’s Eve plans!  Wherever you may be, Mississippi is ringing in 2012 in style!

In Horn Lake, there will be a New Year’s Celebration and Ball Drop at Latimer Park.  Festivities begin at 8 PM and there will be music, food, fireworks and fun.  This evening event is suitable for the whole family.  After a late night, don’t worry about being too tired to drive home as hotel rooms are available at the nearby Ramada Limited or Best Western Plus.

You can ring in the New Year at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Biloxi at their New Year’s Eve Celebration.  The party is at the Hard Rock Live and is from 9 PM- 2 AM and there is a $30 cover.  Trade in your coat for a cape, and rock on like a superhero while enjoying live music from Nervous Presley and DJ Hurricane Lloyd.  The cost is $30 and you must be 21.  Check out The Ledge to see Victor DJ preform from 9PM- 2AM.  The cost is $35.  There will be a champagne toast and a midnight balloon drop.  Hotel rooms are available within the Hard Rock.

The 4^th annual Having A Ball Downtown New Year’s Eve block parting is taking place in Columbus.  The evening starts off at 9PM and last until after midnight.  You can purchase a wristband for $10, giving you access to the block party, an entry into a drawing for $500, and special promotions at local downtown businesses.  You will also have a chance to win a Budweiser fire pit and one of six outdoor grills.  Live music by the Scavengers starts at 9:30PM.  As the clock approaches midnight, watch the ball drop to bring in the New Year.  Crafted by Glenn Machine Works, the ball is lit with over 100 lights, is ten feet in diameter, and will descend from over 100 feet in the air.  This is a night you won’t want to miss!  Hotel reservations can be made at the Comfort Inn or Days Inn.

No matter what you choose to do, we want to wish everyone a very happy and safe New Year’s Eve!

The 7^th annual Biloxi Christmas in the City is taking place from 10am- 4pm on December 3, 2011 at Lameuse Street & Downtown Biloxi.  Enjoy this day with your family and participate in the events going on that welcome any age!

Start your morning off by watching or participating in the Children’s Christmas Walking Parade at 9am.  Bring an unwrapped, new toy or $5 donation and take a picture with Santa Clause from 9:30am- 4:30pm. The Biloxi-Ocean Springs Junior Auxiliary will host the event at the Vieux Marche and proceeds support their Santa’s Helpers program, which benefits Coast children.

Other activities include a performance by the Nativity Elementary School Choir at 10am and a children’s ornament-making booth.  There will be over 100 arts and crafts vendor that are sure to meet all of your gift giving needs this holiday season.  Don’t miss out on getting this year’s collectable ornament and afghan sponsored by the Biloxi Main Street Association.

Hotel accommodations are available downtown near the event for those traveling from out of town.  Admission is free.

If you are anxious to get started on your holiday shopping this year, head to Biloxi this weekend for the 28^th Annual Ron Meyers Christmas City Gift Show.  This weekend shopping event was voted a Top 20 Tourism Event in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society in 2010, so you definitely don’t want to miss it.  With over 300 gift booths, $2,000 in prizes, free holiday workshops, live entertainment by Lynn Meadows, face painting, and Santa, there is something for everyone to enjoy.  See a full list of vendors and a map of the booths here.

The Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center will host this shopping extravaganza on November 12- 13, 2011.  Saturday hours are 9 am- 5pm and Sunday from 10am- 5pm.  Tickets for adults are $8 or $10 for a 2-day pass and parking is free.  Admission for children 16 and under is free.  Each attendee with receive an event program that contains (8) eight $1 Christmas City Gift Show Dollar Bill Savers that are redeemable at participating booths.

Stay for the weekend and make a reservation at the Quality Inn or Motel 6 and you will be located just a short walk away from the convention center.  Don’t miss out on this opportunity for a first class weekend of holiday shopping!

Photo Credit: Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center

Looking for a very family-friendly event this summer? The 25th Annual Coast Coliseum Summer Fair is your ticket! From June 9-19, the Summer Fair features a host of rides, games, contests, shows, live music, food, unique vendors and fun! Pay one price for rides at various times each day. The Fair averages 40,000 attendees and is a local favorite as well as a favorite for folks from Slidell to Mobile and beyond! Click here for a full summer fair schedule of events.

A few tid bits to help you plan your trip to the Summer Fair!

 - Held at the MS Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, MS, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum is the largest beachfront facility of its kind in the South and continues to be the crowd favorite for sports and live entertainment, drawing year-round attendees locally as well as from New Orleans, LA; Mobile, AL; and Jackson, MS.

 - Admissision: Sundays-Thursdays: Free admission, Fridays & Saturdays: Adults $5; Children(0-12) Free.

 - Sit back in the evenings and enjoy the sounds of local artists on the Miller Rocks Cafe Stage. Click here to see what bands are playing!

 - Each year the Summer Fair brings in Free and unique performances that are sure to entertain the young and the young at heart. Racing pigs, petting zoo, West Texas Rattlesnake Show, Kenya Safari Acrobats and More!

 - Kids Camp Day is June 14 (2-4pm). It's a day exclusively for daycares, summer camps, church youth groups, boys & girls clubs, girl scouts, boy scouts, and other children's groups to come and enjoy the Fair from 10am-2pm... pay just $12 for the ride armband! Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic under the oaks. 

 
For a list of accommodations in Biloxi to enjoy more than one day at the Summer Fair, click here!