The Mississippi Gulf Coast puts on fireworks in early December and again on New Year's Eve. This year New Year's Eve falls on a Thursday and New Year's Day on a Friday, so plenty of people get a long weekend. Here's where to watch, count down and ring in 2027.
The fireworks calendar
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Fri., Dec. 4 | Christmas in the Pass: parade, tree lighting and fireworks (4–9 p.m.) | Downtown Pass Christian |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Christmas on the Water boat parade and fireworks (see note) | Biloxi waterfront |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Christmas by the River: 6:15 p.m. lighted boat parade, then fireworks | Downtown Moss Point riverfront |
| Thu., Dec. 31 | The Oyster Drop: live music from 6 p.m., the oyster drops at midnight | Beach Boulevard at 200 North Beach, Bay St. Louis |
| Thu., Dec. 31 | The Drop on Government, from 8 p.m. | Government Street, downtown Ocean Springs |
| Thu., Dec. 31 | New Year's Eve Anchor Drop, 8 p.m.–12:30 a.m. | Downtown Pascagoula |
| Thu., Dec. 31 | Journey From the Heart (Journey tribute), 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. | Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast, Bay St. Louis |
| Thu., Dec. 31 | The Molly Ringwalds ring in the New Year | Beau Rivage Theatre, Biloxi |
| Thu., Dec. 31 | Gulfport Harbor Lights, open on New Year's Eve | Jones Park, Gulfport |
| Fri., Jan. 1 | New Year's Day all-you-can-eat crab buffet | Boomtown Casino, Biloxi |
December fireworks
Christmas in the Pass (Friday, December 4) celebrates its 40th year in downtown Pass Christian, 4–9 p.m., with a 6 p.m. parade, the city's tree lighting, Santa, vendors and a fireworks show. It's free.
Christmas on the Water in Biloxi is the Coast's biggest holiday fireworks night. Decorated boats parade from south of the Biloxi Lighthouse east to Point Cadet, and then fireworks go up over the Mississippi Sound. It's free. For the best view, stand anywhere from the Lighthouse to Point Cadet; the center of the action is between the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor and Oak Street.
Coastal Mississippi's event listing and local calendars give Saturday, December 5 (listed for 6 p.m.); the tourism agency's holiday press release says December 6. Check with the host before you go.
The same night, Moss Point's Christmas by the River ends on the Escatawpa River: the tree lights at 6 p.m., the lighted boat parade starts at 6:15 and fireworks close the night.
For the rest of the season's parades and light shows, see our Christmas on the Gulf Coast 2026 calendar.
New Year's Eve: three towns, three drops
Bay St. Louis: The Oyster Drop. Old Town's party fills Beach Boulevard in front of 200 North Beach with live music all night: Category 6 at 7:30 p.m. and The Chee Weez at 10, with the oyster dropping at midnight. In past years, fireworks have gone up over the water at midnight. VIP balcony tickets (balcony view, an hors d'oeuvres buffet from 6 to 8 p.m. and bottomless champagne) are on sale now and have sold out before.
Ocean Springs: The Drop on Government. Downtown Ocean Springs rings in the year on Government Street starting at 8 p.m., with the drop at midnight. The Ocean Springs Chamber–Main Street lists it on its 2026 calendar; the lineup hasn't been announced yet.
Pascagoula: The Anchor Drop. Pascagoula's downtown New Year's Eve runs 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. in the Flagship District, and the anchor drops at midnight.
Casinos and shows
- Beau Rivage: the '80s tribute band The Molly Ringwalds plays the Beau Rivage Theatre on New Year's Eve, a night of new wave, pop and rock leading up to the midnight countdown.
- Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast in Bay St. Louis has Journey From the Heart, a Journey tribute, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. The early show leaves time to get to the Oyster Drop down the road.
- Boomtown in Biloxi serves a New Year's Eve buffet at lunch and dinner (lunch is $17.99).
Most casino resorts announce their New Year's Eve parties, dinners and countdowns in December, so check each resort's site as the date gets closer. We drive to every casino on the Coast.
Harbor Lights at Jones Park in Gulfport stays open on New Year's Eve and runs into the first days of January (the festival lists January 3 as closing night; Coastal Mississippi says January 2). It makes a good first stop before dinner or a party.
New Year's Day
Sleep in, then head to Boomtown in Biloxi for the New Year's Day all-you-can-eat crab buffet ($49.99). Harbor Lights is still open that night if you missed it.
Plan the ride before you plan the party
Fireworks nights and New Year's Eve mean closed roads, packed parking and long waits for a ride after midnight. New Year's Eve is also one of the most dangerous nights of the year on the road. With a limo, your group rides together, makes as many stops as you like (dinner, a show, the countdown) and has a ride waiting when the night ends. Nobody has to be the designated driver.
New Year's Eve is one of our busiest nights. Request a quote or call us at (228) 797-5466 to hold your spot.
Sources: Coastal Mississippi listings for Christmas in the Pass and Christmas on the Water, its 2026 holiday events announcement, and its Boomtown New Year's Eve and New Year's Day buffet listings; City of Moss Point; 200 North Beach: The Oyster Drop; Ocean Springs Chamber–Main Street 2026 calendar; City of Pascagoula community events; Live Nation: The Molly Ringwalds; Gulfport Harbor Lights; ticket listings for Journey From the Heart at Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast. Details can change; confirm with each host before you go.