Nine Can’t Miss Holiday Photo-Ops in Mississippi

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and a cheery family photo during the holidays is worth at least 10 times that much. If you’re looking for a place to grab a photo for this year’s Christmas card or a place to make incredible holiday memories that will last a lifetime, Mississippi has no shortage of magical spots. From big-city lights in Jackson to Candlelight Christmas in Laurel’s historic settlement of Landrum’s Homestead & Village, here are the best places to get the perfect holiday photo in the Magnolia State.

Head to the coast to see Biloxi’s iconic lighthouse get all gussied up for the holiday season. Every year, Santa has the honor of flipping the switch to light the lighthouse for the season. Hot chocolate, cookies, a choir, and visits with Santa are all part the fun.

Head to Mississippi’s oldest city for a display unlike any other. The 35-acre Greenlawn Memorial Park gets decked for the holidays in thousands of lights, festive garland, and more. More décor like wreaths, bows, and baubles can be enjoyed along Silver Street, Main Street, and Franklin Street. The piece de resistance of holiday magic is the light display and garland decorating the view from the Bluff, the best vantage point to for majestic views of the Mississippi River.

What’s cuter than a photo with a friend or loved one—on ice? In addition to skating the night away on a giant rink in the center of downtown, you’ll have a front-row seat to a light display that includes a giant Christmas tree, illuminated ornaments, and more.

See Mississippi’s biggest city in all its Yuletide glory with a full day of holiday fun on Dec. 2. Events will be held all over the city. Find holiday décor and faux snow in the Old Capitol Museum. See the train display, listen to a choir, and get the kiddos involved in holiday crafts at Two Mississippi Museums. And head to City Hall for the official Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony and a Christmas movie to boot.

Celebrate the reason for the season at the Richardson Light Show, a family-oriented residential drive-by Christmas display in Madison. The free community display features thousands of lights and blowups in every shape and size, all around one truly transformed holiday home.

Nestled in a Mississippi pecan grove is an authentic replica of a late 1800s settlement built by Mississippi native Thomas Landrum. With the goal of creating the feeling of a Hallmark movie, Landrum’s invites visitors to explore its festive grounds every Friday and Saturday in December through Christmas Eve. The Candlelight Christmas series includes hot chocolate, funnel cakes, wagon rides, marshmallow roasting, gem mining, food vendors, photos with Santa, and more. There are guaranteed to be plenty of Insta-worthy vignettes to snap a photo in front of all over the grounds.

Every year, Cleveland turns into a certified holly jolly holiday town for 50 Nights of Lights. The annual display divides downtown into several immaculately decorated areas, all with their own themes. Grab a shot in front of the musical-themed Sharpe Street, ham it up with the spectacular sweets in Candy Land, or enjoy the nostalgia of the train area near The Depot and Train Museum.

This town of 10,000 has enough Christmas spirit to turn any Grinchy frown upside down. Every year, the Yazoo County CVB sponsors a giant installation of multicolored lights that turns the entire downtown into a rainbow-colored riot. If the sparkling lights aren’t enough to catch your fancy, visit on Dec. 10 or Dec. 14 for the Satartia Christmas Parade or Yazoo City Christmas Parade, respectively.
Mississippi is the perfect place to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. For more holiday happenings across the state, check out our events calendar by clicking here today!