The Christmas season is just around the corner, so now is the time to register to participate in the upcoming festivities.
Organizers of Biloxi’s signature holiday event, Christmas on the Water, are taking applications for participants in the boat and children’s parade as well as the Christmas in the City festival.
Boat owners are asked to attend the Kick-off Party Thursday evening at 6 at the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum to register their boats, receive parade logistics and have an chance to buy Christmas on the Water shirts. A follow-up event, the Captains and Skippers meeting, will take place on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Biloxi Yacht Club.
Meantime, parents, guardians and organizations can sign up to participate in the Christmas on the Water Children’s Parade. The parade, in downtown on Friday, Dec. 2, is open to children in kindergarten through third grade and organizations or walking units, such as marching bands and dance groups. The parade will begin at the Dr. Frank Gruich Sr. Community Center and end at the Biloxi Town Green, where Santa Claus will assist with the lighting of the Christmas tree. Registration forms will be distributed at all Biloxi elementary schools, and are available at the Parks and Recreation Department, 377 Hiller Drive or online. Registration deadline is Friday, Nov. 18.
Also, Biloxi Main Street is asking arts, crafts, food and specialty vendors to sign up for the Christmas in the City festival. The affair will take place in the downtown Rue Magnolia area on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Interested vendors should complete an application and return it to the Biloxi Main Street office by Thursday, Nov. 24.
Christmas on the water shirts will be available next week at the Biloxi Main Street office, 932 Howard Avenue.
Christmas on the Water, which is organized by volunteers, is one of several community events that helps Biloxi usher in the holidays.
See the Kick-off Party flyer
See the Captain and Skippers Meeting flyer
See the Children’s Parade registration form
See the Children’s Parade route
See the Christmas in the City Vendor application
See the Christmas on the Water activity line-up
City to play role in Saints Hall of Fame induction
When the late Will Smith is inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame on Friday, the City of Biloxi will play a role in the ceremony.
F. Cliff Kirkland, the city’s Chief of Civic Innovation and Development, will represent Biloxi as a presenting sponsor at the New Orleans Saint Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for 2016. Kirkland will actually unveil Smith’s bust.
The event will be Friday at the Chateau Country Club in New Orleans.
Smith is the former defensive standout who was tragically killed earlier this year. The Saints Hall of Fame invited Kirkland to represent Biloxi because of the Saints Hall of Fame event conducted this past summer in Biloxi, which raised $20,000 for the Saints Hall of Fame.
Smith is the only player being inducted this year in the Saints Hall of Fame. Former running back Hokie Gajan will be posthumously honored with the Joe Gemelli Award. Gajan died a few months ago after a lengthy battle with cancer.
See photos from the Saints Kids Experience
See photos from Hall of Fame golf tournament
News and notes
Farmers Market Festival: The last of this season’s Farmers Market Festivals will be Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. under the I-110 overpass off Howard Avenue. To see the flyer, click here.
Firefighter fundraiser: Tickets are now available for the fourth annual Biloxi Firefighter’s Relief Fund $2,000 Drawdown which takes place on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Biloxi Civic Center. The fundraiser benefits the Biloxi firefighters. To see the flyer, click here.
The charmed life: The annual Biloxi First roast, targeting civic leader Jaye Brice this year, was a rousing success Tuesday night at the IP Casino Resort. The event raised thousands of dollars to help fund innovative classroom projects in Biloxi Public Schools. To see a handful of photographs from the evening, click here.
I see, said the Blind Tiger: The newest waterfront restaurant, the Blind Tiger, is taking shape on the western end of the Great Lawn down on Point Cadet. To see the progress and a rendering, click here.
“FoFo” and Madame Secretary: Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich on Tuesday night had a chance to greet Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James during her latest visit to Biloxi. To see details and photos, click here.