The weather is cooling down, but the Mississippi Gulf Coast events lineup is definitely not. Whether you’re a foodie or a music, art, or nature lover, there’s a gathering to enjoy this fall on our coast.  

Mississippi Songwriters’ Festival

Ocean Springs & Gautier | Sept. 22–24

Take your pick! More than 200 songwriters will be playing in bars, parks, restaurants, hotels, and more in Ocean Springs and Gautier. The 14th annual event also offers a youth showcase and songwriters clinics.

Taste of Long Beach

Long Beach | Sept. 28

The Taste of Long Beach event is a delicious culinary journey where you can savor a wide array of flavors and dishes that showcase the city's vibrant food scene. Among some 50 booths, sample everything from barbecue to seafood from local restaurants, and wet your whistle with beer, wine, and liquor. The 14th annual event includes live music and a silent auction. 

Butterflies in the Pass Monarch Festival

Pass Christian | Sept. 30

Flutter around this free, family-friendly event celebrating monarch butterflies and other important pollinators. Butterfly-themed costumes are encouraged, especially for the walking parade that kicks off the fun, followed by hands-on activities, expert speakers, and educational exhibits by the “Bug Blues,” garden clubs, and more.

Cruisin’ the Coast

Multiple Cities | Oct. 1–8

Calling all classic car buffs who love perfectly buffed antique, muscle, and hot rod cars! More than 10,000 works of automotive art are anticipated to cruise along a beachside highway into this top-of-the-line car show. Cities that dot the Gulf each celebrate their arrival, earning it the title of “America’s largest block party.” The event is loaded with live music, fresh seafood, a huge swap meet, memorabilia, and a car auction.

Gulf Coast Shrimp Tasting Festival 

Biloxi | Oct. 14

From boiled to grilled and fried to blackened–you can sample all the ways to cook tasty, fresh-caught shrimp at this third annual all-you-can-eat festival. Among a delicious variety of Biloxi events featuring seafood, you can enjoy a cook-off, beer garden, Broncos and Mustangs car show, Big Boyz Toy Show, live music, and arts and crafts.

Mississippi Renaissance Festival 

Gulfport | Oct. 20–21

Immerse yourself in a magical world where history comes to life during Ren Fest at the Harrison County Fairgrounds. Witness jousting knights, admire skilled archery, enjoy captivating theater and live music performances, and much more. Kids can embark on a thrilling Grimms Forest Adventure, while adults can relish the cozy pub atmosphere. Shop for exquisite handmade jewelry, unique leather hairpins, and delightful garden gnomes to safeguard your garden.

Gautier Mullet & Music Festival

Gautier | Oct. 21

The 33rd annual Gautier Mullet & Music Festival celebrates a type of fish, not a hairstyle, though you’re free to style your hair any way you want. Enjoy local cuisine–including fish, of course–live music, fine arts and crafts, a pet parade, cosplay contest, car and motorcycle show, bounce houses, face painting, and a “mullet toss.”

Joyful Noise Music & Mural Festival

Biloxi | Oct. 22

The second annual Joyful Noise Music & Mural Festival brings together a vibrant celebration of music and art, filling the city with the harmonious sounds of various genres and colorful murals that tell stories of creativity and community.

Musicians and artists will unite to raise awareness and money in the fight against domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Enjoy headliners SeraBee and Jamell Richardson, bid on stunning murals painted during the event, pick up treasures from arts and crafts vendors, and learn about resources available in the community.

Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival

Ocean Springs | Nov. 4-5

With more than 400 booths and an estimated crowd of 150,000 last year, the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival has grown into one of the Gulf Coast’s largest of its kind. Stroll under 300-year-old oak trees for this creative street party with music, food, and art ranging from oil paintings and pottery to folk toys and metalwork. 

Now in its 45th year, this festival pays tribute to a revered local potter by the same name. The event boasts diverse attractions, including interactive activities, live artist demonstrations, and a dedicated art market for children. Attendees can also explore the city’s art galleries and antique stores and enjoy special discounts at local businesses and restaurants.

Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Music Festival

Nov. 11-12 | Gulfport

Get out the plaid and gather up your clan for not a wee bit of fun but a lot of fun. Watch jousting, Irish dancing, blacksmiths, candle makers, border collies herding sheep, and highland games such as “caber” and “sheafs’ tossing. Listen to bagpipes and a Celtic band from Hawaii named “The Kilt Lifters.” Take home kilts of your own, or jewelry, corsets, and cookbooks. Eat authentic food, such as Scotch eggs, meat pies, corned beef and cabbage, and fish and chips. 

The bairns can ride the national animal of Scotland–a unicorn–take an archery lesson, listen to stories, and pet the adorable Highland cows. You can meet real clans, too, who will be set up in a row displaying their tartans, shields, and history. 

More Mississippi Gulf Coast Events

These are just a handful of the numerous events happening along the Mississippi Gulf Coast this time of year.