Page 80 - Play Coastal Mississippi - Spring & Summer, 2026

ATTRACTIONS
> Gulf Coast Oyster Cook-Off & Festival | Point Cadet Plaza
A CELEBRATION
of seafood
FROM SPRING CRAWFISH BOILS TO LATE-SUMMER SHRIMP FEASTS
Seafood season doesn’t arrive quietly in Coastal Mississippi—it announces itself with the sound of music drifting over the water, the smell of spice in the air, and long tables filled with friends, family, and strangers who won’t be strangers for long. From the first day of spring until the last day of summer, the Coast celebrates its connection to the Gulf not just with what’s served, but with how it’s shared—out loud, outdoors, and together.
April signals the official kickoff, and it does so with flavor and volume. The Crawfish Music Festival, held April 17-19, is a springtime staple that blends spicy boiled crawfish with live music and festival energy. Hosted at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center in Biloxi, the long-running event draws crowds ready to shake off winter and lean into the season ahead. Crawfish piles up fast, bands keep the mood lively, and the Coast settles comfortably back into festival mode.
By May, oysters take center stage with the Gulf Coast Oyster Cook- Off & Festival, typically held in late spring in Biloxi. This popular event brings together local chefs, shuckers, and seafood fans eager to sample the Coast’s favorite bivalve in every form imaginable— from raw oysters on the half shell to charbroiled and creatively topped favorites. The atmosphere is relaxed and social, with live music, Coastal breezes, and plenty of reasons to linger long after the last oyster is shucked.
> The Blessing of the Fleet | Coastal Mississippi & RPF Media
80 PLAY COASTAL MISSISSIPPI I SPRING/SUMMER 2026
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