From The Region's Most Popular Outdoor Events To Local Seafood, Outdoor Experiences And More

Coastal Mississippi is proud to spotlight many of the best springtime adventures to experience on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. As days grow longer and warmer, travelers can find the perfect blend of outdoor adventure, coastal beauty, and events filled with fabulous food and cultural flair. Coastal Mississippi's hand-picked experiences include:

The Events of the Spring:

·      Annual Buggin' the Beach | VW Charity Car Show: Celebrating its 30 ^th year, the Annual Buggin' the Beach Show features Vdubs of all shapes and sizes, from the original classics to customized GTI's and other late models. Visitors can participate in show voting, live auctions and more - all benefiting local charities. March 22. Biloxi, MS.

·      Annual D'Iberville BBQ Festival: An event filled with fun for everyone and delicious food, the D'Iberville BBQ Festival features intense cookoffs for brisket, BBQ chicken, ribs and more. Travelers can taste these dishes, find their favorite, enjoy live music, and find local craft vendors. March 22. D'Iberville, MS.

·      Spring Arts Festival: A two-day event celebrating its 31 ^st year, the Spring Arts Festival highlights arts, crafts, and colorful florals in historic downtown Ocean Springs. Travelers can enjoy their time under a canopy of stately live oaks amongst more than 200 arts, crafts, herbs, and garden vendors. March 22-23. Ocean Springs, MS.

·      Annual Biloxi Chamber Craft Beer Fest: Now in its 7 ^th year, this annual event presented by the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce is offering a wider selection that ever. Travelers can experience a variety of craft beer from regional and national breweries, enjoy live entertainment, and indulge in food from local vendors. March 29. Biloxi, MS.

·      Arts Alive! Festival: The two-day, family-friendly art festival, Arts Alive, is held in The Depot Arts District along Blaize Avenue and runs along the newly renovated grounds in front of The Bay St. Louis Historic L&N Train Depot. The event has free admission for all and features multiple performance stages filled with award-winning local talent. March 29-30. Bay St. Louis, MS.

·      Annual Crawfish Music Festival: In its 32^nd year, the Annual Crawfish Music Festival is a five-day event offering a blend of live music, delicious, boiled crawfish, and family-friendly activities. A highlight of the festival is the Crawfish Cook-Off on Saturday, April 26, where teams compete for cash prizes and the title of best boiled crawfish. April 23-27. Biloxi, MS.

·      Annual Gulf Coast Dragon Boat Festival: Returning for its 9 ^th year, the Annual Golf Coast Dragon Boat Festival celebrates the traditional Chinese water sport of dragon boat racing. The event includes everything from cultural performances and food vendors to activities for spectators in a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere. April 25-26. Biloxi, MS.

·      Pirate Day in the Bay: The historically lively local festival, Pirate Day in the Bay, offers travelers a blend of family-friendly and adult-oriented activities, including a month-long scavenger hunt titled "Where Arrr the Pirates," a Friday night pub crawl, live music performances, and a "Lil Buccaneers" kids' walking parade. May 16-17. Bay St. Louis, MS.

·      Annual Jeepin the Coast: The event stretched along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Jeepin the Coast unites thousands of Jeep enthusiasts from all around the U.S. for an annual five-day celebration. Travelers can find multiple family-friendly events to hang together or branch off into their own adventure throughout Coastal Mississippi. May 28-June 1. Long Beach, MS.

Experience Fresh Mississippi Gulf Coast Seafood:

·      Trapani's Eatery: Trapani's Eatery offers a stylish beachfront café with a large patio and bay views that expertly combines coastal, shabby chic with an elevated dining experience. On the menu, dishes feature everything from trout to flounder and more - bringing the best seafood to the Gulf Coast. Bay St. Louis, MS.

·      Snappers Seafood Restaurant & Beach Club: For an excellent dining experience overlooking the Mississippi Sound, Snappers Seafood Restaurant, features fresh-caught seafood, Snapper's Famous Po-Boys, and a recently added ice cream and pizza shop on-site at the beach club. Biloxi, MS.

·      Blow Fly Bar & Grill: Overlooking the Bayou Bernard, a peaceful riverfront in Gulfport, Blow Fly Bar & Grill serves top-notch dishes that bring enticing blends of flavors together in juicy hamburgers, succulent steaks, fresh Mississippi Gulf Coast seafood and more. Additionally, the restaurant offers a popular, local favorite brunch menu on the weekends. Gulfport, MS.

·      Taranto's Crawfish: A family-friendly, no-frills spot with small town feel and marine life artwork, Taranto's Crawfish features freshly caught crawfish, po' boys & the proclaimed "Best Sandwich in Mississippi." All guests are welcomed with open arms and a restaurant full of smiles - and are guaranteed to leave with nothing short of a stuffed belly! Biloxi, MS.

Fill out your Itinerary with Coastal Mississippi Activities & Experiences:

·      Paradise Pier Fun Park: The entire crew, from the little ones to the teenagers, can set sail to Paradise Pier Fun Park. This action-packed pier features everything from thrilling amusement park rides, hand-crafted refreshments, unbeatable views of the Mississippi Sound and more. Biloxi, MS.

·      Estuarine Education Center: Located on 40-acres of estuary land, the Estuarine Education Center is open to the public and offers a variety of experiences, including kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding on the Mary Walker Bayou, an indoor-outdoor rock wall, a challenging rope course, and over two miles of nature trails. Gautier, MS.

·      Magnolia Birding Pier: Connecting to the Historic Pathway, the Historic Pascagoula Bike Route, and the Pascagoula River Blueway, the Magnolia Birding Pier offers travelers' unique views overlooking the shallow tidal marsh and bayou, and the high potential for viewing a variety of water-dependent birds. Pascagoula, MS.

·      Possum Walk Trail: The starting point of the 100-mile Heritage Trail that runs from INFINITY Science Center to Moss Point, the Possum Walk Trail features a roughly 45-minute nature tour exploration through history. The area, a now deserted African American community, as well as a Logtown, showcases interpretive signs along the trail to learn of the past times. Bay St. Louis, MS.

·      Slow Ride Pedal Tours: Hop aboard and enjoy the beautiful downtown area of Ocean Springs with Slow Ride Pedal Tours, a unique 14-seat pedal bar. Travelers can take in the sights and sounds during a two-hour cruise with their favorite beverage. Ocean Springs, MS.

"With mild southern days and evenings on the horizon, Coastal Mississippi is waiting to welcome travelers to experience everything our regional destination has to offer this spring," said Judy Young, CEO of Coastal Mississippi Tourism. "From our welcoming atmosphere to scenic beauty and diverse attractions, everyone can plan their next adventure that's sure to deliver unforgettable memories along our 62 miles of shoreline."  

To plan your spring trip to Coastal Mississippi, find additional experiences from the destination, or learn more about the Mississippi Gulf Coast, visit CoastalMississippi.com. 

About Coastal Mississippi: Coastal Mississippi is the organization charged with promoting South Mississippi as a tourism and convention destination worldwide. Its mission centers on attracting ever-increasing numbers of leisure, convention, sports, and business visitors to the area. It is dedicated to maximizing the travel and tourism industry for South Mississippi. Visit   CoastalMississippi.com to learn more.