Page 81 - Play Coastal Mississippi - Spring & Summer, 2026

As summer deepens, July delivers some of the Coast’s most cherished traditions. Over the Fourth of July weekend, Bay St. Louis hosts the Our Lady of the Gulf Crab Festival, a multi-day celebration filled with crab feasts, live music, arts and crafts vendors, and family-friendly fun. It’s a true community event—equal parts seafood festival and hometown reunion—where cracked shells and laughter are equally abundant.
Early July also brings the Blessing of the Fleet & Shrimp Festival in Biloxi, a time-honored maritime tradition dating back nearly a century. Decorated shrimp boats gather on the water to receive a blessing for a safe and successful season, followed by onshore festivities that include fresh shrimp, music, and a deep sense of gratitude for the people who work the Gulf. It’s one of the most meaningful celebrations of the summer, blending faith, heritage, and food in a way only the Coast can.
As summer winds down, September delivers a fitting finale with the Biloxi Seafood Festival, traditionally held in mid-September. Set against the backdrop of the Biloxi Town Green, the festival showcases Gulf seafood in all its forms, with local vendors, live music, arts and crafts, and a laid-back neighborhood feel. It’s a celebration that feels both festive and familiar—an end-of-season gathering that reminds everyone why seafood culture here runs so deep.
What ties these festivals together isn’t just what’s on the plate. It’s the pride, the history, and the connection to the water that define life on the Coast. Each event honors generations of shrimpers, fishermen, cooks, and families who’ve built a culture around the Gulf’s bounty.
From the first crawfish boil of spring to the last shrimp basket of summer, seafood season on the Coast is more than a series of events—it’s a rhythm. One that invites you to come as you are, bring a hearty appetite, and plan to stay awhile.
COASTALMISSISSIPPI.COM
> Biloxi Seafood Festival
> Crawfish Music Festival | Coastal Mississippi & RPF Media
> Our Lady of the Gulf Crab Festival | Coastal Mississippi & RPF Media
SPRING/SUMMER 2026
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