Main Street to show off downtown with evening of activities

Main Street Biloxi will usher in a new holiday tradition this year with “Christmas in the City: A Downtown Biloxi Christmas Open House,” a Friday evening of free activities at various sites in downtown Biloxi.

The Nov. 22 event, which is a preface to the city’s Christmas on the Water celebration in December, is designed to bring attention – and visitors – to the Biloxi downtown.

“All of the downtown businesses – we have over 40 participating – will be decorated for Christmas, and participating businesses will offer door prizes and discounts,” said Kay Miller, executive director of Main Street Biloxi. “Our plan is to bring the people of Biloxi to the downtown area to show them how great it can be.”

Main Street has scheduled an array of activities throughout its marketing area, which stretches from Porter Avenue to Bellman Street and north to the CSX railroad.

Among the activities taking place from 4 to 8 p.m.:

  • Dance troupes from local dance studios will be performing at the Magnolia Hotel.
  • Christmas caroling will take place at Margaret Tremmel Peresich Park.
  • The Gulf Coast Symphony will perform at the Redding House.
  • Storytelling will take place at the Creole Cottage in front of the Biloxi Library.
  • The Biloxi Art Association will have an arts and crafts sale on the Town Green.
  • Christmas-tree decorating will take place in the parking lot of the Lopez-Quave Public Safety Center.
  • The Mardi Gras Museum, Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art and the Biloxi Firefighters Museum will all be open until 8 o’clock that night.
  • The Old Biloxi Tour Train will provide free shuttle service to and from each location, and the Biloxi Firefighters Museum will be providing free fire truck rides.

“With this diverse lineup of activities, we think we have something for everyone to enjoy,” Miller said. “With the shuttle service, visitors won’t have to worry about driving from site to site, and some may just decide to walk through the downtown to see the decorations.”

Miller said shoppers will be given cards at participating businesses to be validated for prizes. Visitors also can vote for the best Christmas decorations, with the winners being announced at the lighting of the Town Green, which takes place Dec. 6, the opening night of Christmas on the Water.

Parking for Christmas in the City will be available at public lots throughout the downtown area, as well as near the Town Green, in the Beau Rivage lot on Howard Avenue and under I-110.

Co-sponsoring the event with Main Street Biloxi are the city, the city’s two chambers of commerce, Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, Q-92.5 and The Bay Press.

Details: 435-6339.