free things to do
next 7 days · Nov 8–14
Details can change. Check with the organizer before you go.
Oct. 4–11Cruisin' the Coast is here
The full week: parades, autocross, the auction, venue bands, casino shows, and where every Cruisin' site is.
See the full schedule →- Sun
Long Beach Art & Artisans Market
Weekly Sunday market of handmade art and artisan goods on the Town Green. Free admission.
Coastal Mississippi - Sun
Black Velvet Duo — Hollywood Casino Hollydeck
Sunday-afternoon live music on the Hollydeck. Free admission; 21+ on casino property.
Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast - Wed
Veterans Day Ceremony & Open House — Armed Forces Retirement Home
AFRH-Gulfport opens its doors for Veterans Day: meet resident veterans, see military displays and shop crafts, pottery, artwork and woodwork made by the residents. All ages welcome; free admission.
Coastal Mississippi - Wed
Gulfport Harbor Farmers Market
Weekly Wednesday market of fresh produce and handcrafted goods at the harbor. Free admission.
Coastal Mississippi - Wed
Jackson County Veterans Day Program — Pelican Landing
The 27th annual program from Moss Point Main Street brings the Presentation of Colors, the Military Anthem Salute and the Wreath of the Fallen Soldier, with a keynote by retired Army Maj. James Bordelon and closing Taps. Free and open to everyone.
Coastal Mississippi / City of Moss Point - Wed
Veterans Day Observance — Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The City of Ocean Springs marks Veterans Day with an observance at the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Bienville Boulevard. Free and open to the public.
City of Ocean Springs -
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- Wed
The Arts November Social Gathering with Tom Koger
Photographer Tom Koger of Tom & Sara Photography talks about his creative journey and the Coast landscapes behind his images. The Arts provides drinks; bring a friend and an hors d’oeuvre to share. Free and open to the public.
Coastal Mississippi / The Arts, Hancock County - Wed
Veterans Day Candlelight Observance — Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial
An evening candlelight Veterans Day observance at the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial, listed on the City of Ocean Springs calendar. Free and open to the public.
City of Ocean Springs - Thu
Ocean Springs Environment Alliance Lecture — The Mary C
Rescheduled from Oct. 8 because of weather. Bring glass bottles and jars for a 4 p.m. crushing demo on the lawn, then wine and cheese at 6 and a 6:30 talk by Shawn Harris on recycled crushed glass. Free.
The Mary C / Ocean Springs Environmental Alliance - Thu
Bingo — East Hancock Public Library
Free second-Thursday bingo at the library, with fun prizes and light refreshments while supplies last.
Hancock County Library System - Thu
LEGO Night — Gautier Public Library
Builders of all skill levels are invited to an evening of LEGO building at the Gautier Public Library.
Jackson-George Regional Library - Fri
John Pierre & Expressions — Hollywood Casino Hollydeck
Friday-evening live music on the Hollydeck. Free admission; 21+ on casino property.
Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast - Fri
Sugar Cane — Island View Sunset Bar
Free live music from Sugar Cane at Island View’s Sunset Bar. 21+ on casino property.
Island View Casino Resort - Fri
Witness — Silver Slipper Stage Bar
Friday-night band at the Silver Slipper’s Stage Bar. Free to attend; 21+ on casino property.
Silver Slipper Casino - Fri
Joni and Baytown Groove — Hollywood Casino Stage Bar
Friday-night live band at the Stage Bar. Free to attend; 21+ on casino property.
Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast - Fri
New Direction — Island View Stage Bar
Free live music from New Direction at Island View’s Stage Bar. 21+ on casino property.
Island View Casino Resort - Sat
Second Saturday in Old Town Bay St. Louis
Monthly Second Saturday — merchants, specials, fresh meals and live music across Old Town and the Depot District. Free to stroll.
Hancock County Chamber / Old Town Bay St. Louis - Sat
10th Annual Mermaids Arts & Crafts Show
The Krewe of Nereids fills the shady Depot grounds with more than 70 booths of regional arts and crafts. Free to attend. The show continues Sunday.
Krewe of Nereids - Sat
Art Without Walls Art Market
Outdoor art market with local artists selling original work, prints, jewelry, pottery and fiber arts, plus live music, DJs and free kids’ art activities. Free and family-friendly.
The Arts, Hancock County - Sat
Waveland Veterans Parade
Waveland honors those who served with its annual Veterans Parade down Coleman Avenue. Free to watch.
Hancock County Chamber of Commerce - Sat
Nature Printmaking: Turmeric-Type — Davis Bayou
A free hands-on WAMA demo at Davis Bayou: coat paper with a turmeric mixture, arrange leaves and flowers, and let the sun make golden prints.
Walter Anderson Museum of Art -
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- Sat
Magic: The Gathering Game Day — Gautier Public Library
An afternoon of Magic: The Gathering at the library. Experienced and new players welcome.
Jackson-George Regional Library - Sat
Dave Mayley Band — Hollywood Casino Hollydeck
Saturday-afternoon live music on the Hollydeck. Free admission; 21+ on casino property.
Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast - Sat
Sugar Cane — Island View Sunset Bar
Free live music from Sugar Cane at Island View’s Sunset Bar. 21+ on casino property.
Island View Casino Resort - Sat
Joni and Baytown Groove — Hollywood Casino Stage Bar
Saturday-night live band at the Stage Bar. Free to attend; 21+ on casino property.
Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast - Sat
Razzoo — Silver Slipper Stage Bar
Saturday-night band at the Silver Slipper’s Stage Bar. Free to attend; 21+ on casino property.
Silver Slipper Casino - Sat
New Direction — Island View Stage Bar
Free live music from New Direction at Island View’s Stage Bar. 21+ on casino property.
Island View Casino Resort
free on the Coast, any week
The Mississippi Gulf Coast has miles of free beach, historic downtowns and a national seashore you can walk into for nothing. On top of this week's free events above, these standbys are there any week.
- The beach. Sand beach runs for miles along U.S. 90 from Biloxi through Gulfport, Long Beach and Pass Christian, with more in Bay St. Louis, Ocean Springs and Pascagoula. It's free to walk, wade and watch the sun go down over the Gulf, and the sidewalk along the seawall makes an easy walk or bike ride.
- The Biloxi Lighthouse and Visitors Center. The 1848 lighthouse stands in the middle of U.S. 90, one of the few anywhere with traffic on both sides. Across the street, the Biloxi Visitors Center is free and open daily, with local history and help planning your trip.
- The Friendship Oak, Long Beach. A live oak more than 500 years old on the front lawn of the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Park campus. The legend goes that people who stand in its shade together stay friends for life. Lights, benches and viewing areas were added in 2025.
- Davis Bayou, Ocean Springs. The mainland part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, just east of downtown Ocean Springs. There's a visitor center, a two-mile trail through coastal forest and over the bayous, picnic spots and a fishing pier. Watch for herons, and now and then an alligator.
- Historic downtowns. Wander the galleries, shops and live oaks along Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs, Main Street and the beachfront in Old Town Bay St. Louis, and Howard Avenue in downtown Biloxi. Looking costs nothing.
- Art walks and farmers markets. Old Town Bay St. Louis has long held a Second Saturday Art Walk, busiest in the late afternoon when galleries open their doors and musicians play. Farmers markets are free to browse; this week's are on our farmers markets page.
Hours and details change, so check with each place before you go.
questions
Are there free things to do on the Mississippi Gulf Coast today?
Yes: Long Beach Art & Artisans Market and Black Velvet Duo — Hollywood Casino Hollydeck.
Are there free things to do on the Mississippi Gulf Coast this weekend?
Yes: Long Beach Art & Artisans Market (Sun) and Black Velvet Duo — Hollywood Casino Hollydeck (Sun).
Which towns have free things to do this week?
Bay St. Louis (11), Gulfport (6), Ocean Springs (4), Gautier (2), Diamondhead (1), Long Beach (1), Moss Point (1) and Waveland (1).
How up to date is this list?
shore.buzz adds new events every day, and past events drop off on their own. Times and details can change, so check with the organizer before you go.
get the weekly picks
The best of the Coast, in your inbox every week. No spam.