The Mississippi Gulf Coast serves up frights, family fun, and coastal charm for the spooky season
BILOXI, Miss., Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This Halloween, Coastal Mississippi is inviting visitors for a trip filled with fright to experience the Coast with the Ghosts. From hundreds of “witches” parading through historic downtowns to a 40,000-square-foot haunted warehouse, the Mississippi Gulf Coast trades sunbathers for skeletons and turns its beach towns into one long trick-or-treat trail.
Spanning 62 miles of scenic shorelines, this year’s Halloween calendar of events brings 10 events to the destination. Whether travelers are planning a family getaway or an adults-only trip, here’s where to find the fright this October in Coastal Mississippi:
- Terror on the Coast (Gulfport, Sept. 18–Oct. 31): The Coast’s largest haunted attraction returns to its 40,000-square-foot warehouse with Hollywood-caliber sets, live actors and a hall of food trucks, vendors, and a full bar.
- Fall Fest at Biloxi Towne Green (Biloxi, Oct. 17): A free, family-friendly festival on the beach with local vendors, food trucks and a costume contest for kids and adults that’s judged on creativity, humor, and scare factor.
- Seventh Annual Boo in the Bay Parade (Bay St. Louis, Oct. 17): A free, family-friendly parade featuring decorated golf carts, Jeeps and classic cars rolling through Old Town as costumed participants toss candy and Halloween trinkets to spectators.
- Moonlight Masquerade: Party from Planet X (Biloxi, Oct. 17): The Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence’s 16th annual gala transforms White Pillars Restaurant & Lounge into a retro-futuristic costume party, with live music, a silent auction, and proceeds benefiting survivors of domestic violence across South Mississippi.
- Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics (Ocean Springs, Oct. 23): A string quartet performs candlelit renditions of scores from Halloween, Psycho, Ghostbusters and Beetlejuice at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center. It’s a must-see Halloween atmosphere without a single jump scare.
- Kroctoberfest ’26 (Biloxi, Oct. 23): A free, family-friendly fall tradition at the Salvation Army Kroc Center Mississippi Gulf Coast, featuring trunk-or-treating, a costume contest, live music, food trucks, and community vendors.
- Boo Bash (Gulfport, Oct. 24): The City of Gulfport’s free annual Halloween bash returns to the Sportsplex soccer fields for an evening of games, trunk-or-treating, and family-friendly fun.
- Witches Ride of Ocean Springs (Ocean Springs, Oct. 24): Nearly 500 witches trade brooms for decorated bikes, golf carts, and walking shoes for a parade through downtown Ocean Springs, with all proceeds supporting local animal welfare organizations.
- Bay St. Louis Witches Walk (Bay St. Louis, Oct. 24): Old Town Bay St. Louis fills with costumed “witches” for a morning of shopping specials, contests, and photo ops throughout the district’s boutiques and galleries.
- Here Come the Mummies (Biloxi, Oct. 29): The self-described “Terrifying Funk from Beyond the Grave” band brings its horn-driven, high-energy funk-rock show to Studio A at IP Casino Resort & Spa.
- Brick or Treat at TrainTastic (Gulfport, Oct. 31): A LEGO-themed send-off to the season, combining Halloween costumes with hands-on building activities and make-and-take projects for families.
“Halloween in Coastal Mississippi has grown into one of our most anticipated seasons,” said Judy Young, CEO of Coastal Mississippi Tourism. “Each of our communities across Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties brings its own personality to the season, with celebrations and experiences you simply won’t find anywhere else. We invite visitors to come for the Halloween fun, stay a few days and explore everything Coastal Mississippi has to offer, from our 62 miles of shoreline and incredible seafood to our attractions, arts and welcoming coastal communities. It’s the perfect time to turn a Halloween celebration into a Coastal Mississippi getaway.”
For more information on the countless ways to explore Coastal Mississippi this Halloween season, or to plan a trip today, please visit CoastalMississippi.com or follow @PlayCoastalMS on social media.
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 travelers to the area. It is dedicated to maximizing the travel and tourism industry for South Mississippi. Visit CoastalMississippi.com to learn more.
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SOURCE Coastal Mississippi
