Ocean Springs is a town that knows how to celebrate. From Mardi Gras in February to the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival in November, the town's event calendar is packed with festivals, markets, and community gatherings that showcase the best of Gulf Coast culture — the art, the food, the music, and the genuine community spirit that makes Ocean Springs one of the most welcoming small towns in America.

Here's your complete guide to Ocean Springs' seasonal events and festivals.

Ocean Springs celebrates Mardi Gras with a genuine community spirit that is distinct from the massive commercial celebrations in New Orleans and Biloxi. The Ocean Springs Mardi Gras is smaller, more intimate, and more focused on community participation than spectacle.

The Parades: Ocean Springs hosts several Mardi Gras parades in the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday, with floats, marching bands, and the traditional throwing of beads, doubloons, and other trinkets.

The Balls: Several Mardi Gras balls are held in Ocean Springs in the weeks before Fat Tuesday, ranging from formal krewe balls to casual community dances.

Fat Tuesday: The final day of Mardi Gras season is celebrated with a final parade and a community party in downtown Ocean Springs.

When: The weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday (date varies; typically late January to early March)

Ocean Springs celebrates the holiday season with a series of events that showcase the town's arts community and community spirit.

The Christmas Parade — a beloved community tradition with floats, marching bands, and Santa Claus.

Holiday Gallery Walk — the First Saturday Gallery Walk in December takes on a holiday theme, with galleries hosting special exhibitions and receptions.

The First Saturday Gallery Walk — held on the first Saturday of every month — is at its most vibrant in spring, when the weather is beautiful and the galleries are showing new work after the winter season.

What to Expect: Galleries stay open late (typically until 8pm), host receptions for new exhibitions, and offer the opportunity to meet the artists. The walk is free and open to everyone.

The Ocean Springs Farmers Market — held on Saturday mornings in downtown — is at its best in spring, when the local farms are producing the first fresh vegetables of the season and the Gulf seafood is at its most abundant.

What to Find: Local produce, fresh Gulf seafood, honey, eggs, artisan food products, and handmade crafts.

When: Saturday mornings, year-round

Ocean Springs celebrates Earth Day with a community event that reflects the town's deep connection to the natural world — a legacy of Walter Anderson's passionate engagement with the Gulf Coast ecosystem.

Activities: Environmental education, nature walks, kayak tours of the Back Bay, and community clean-up events.

Ocean Springs hosts a summer concert series in the downtown area, with free outdoor concerts on weekend evenings. The concerts feature a variety of musical genres, from blues and jazz to country and rock.

When: Friday and Saturday evenings, June–August
Where: Downtown Ocean Springs

Ocean Springs celebrates Independence Day with a community festival and fireworks over Biloxi Bay. The fireworks display, viewed from Front Beach, is one of the most spectacular on the Gulf Coast.

When: July 4th
Where: Front Beach

Summer is the peak season for Gulf seafood — the shrimp are running, the crabs are fat, and the fish are biting. The restaurants of Ocean Springs are at their most vibrant in summer, with menus that showcase the best of the Gulf's seasonal abundance.

What to Eat: Gulf brown shrimp (peak season June–August), blue crabs, speckled trout, and redfish.

Cruisin' the Coast is one of the largest classic car shows in America — a week-long event that takes over the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast, with Ocean Springs as one of the prime gathering spots. More than 8,000 classic cars participate, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the country.

What to Expect: Classic cars from every era, from 1920s roadsters to 1970s muscle cars, parked along the Gulf Coast highway and in downtown Ocean Springs. Live music, food vendors, and a genuine celebration of American automotive culture.

When: First week of October
More Information: cruisinthecoast.com

The Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival is the crown jewel of Ocean Springs' event calendar — one of the largest and most prestigious arts and crafts festivals in the Southeast. Named for Walter Anderson's brother Peter (founder of Shearwater Pottery), the festival draws more than 100,000 visitors to Ocean Springs for a weekend of art, music, food, and community.

The Art: More than 400 juried artists and craftspeople from across the country, with work in every medium — painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts, photography, and more. The quality is exceptional.

The Food: The festival features food vendors showcasing the best of Gulf Coast cuisine — fresh Gulf seafood, Cajun specialties, and the kind of Southern cooking that Ocean Springs does so well.

The Music: Live music on multiple stages throughout the weekend, featuring blues, jazz, country, and rock.

The Atmosphere: The Peter Anderson Festival has a genuine community spirit that sets it apart from larger, more commercial festivals. The town comes alive for the weekend, with galleries, restaurants, and shops all participating.

When: First weekend of November
Where: Downtown Ocean Springs
Admission: Free
More Information: peterandersonfestival.com

Fall is the second peak season for the First Saturday Gallery Walk, with galleries showing new work after the summer and the festival season bringing new visitors to town.

The First Saturday Gallery Walk is Ocean Springs' signature monthly event — a self-guided tour of the town's galleries and studios, with receptions, artist talks, and the opportunity to meet the creative community that makes Ocean Springs special.

When: First Saturday of every month, 5pm–8pm
Where: Downtown Ocean Springs
Admission: Free

When: Saturday mornings, year-round
Where: Downtown Ocean Springs

Best Weekend: The Peter Anderson Festival (first weekend of November) is the single best weekend to visit Ocean Springs — the weather is perfect, the art is extraordinary, and the town is at its most vibrant.

Second Best: Mardi Gras season (February) offers a more intimate, community-focused celebration than the massive events in New Orleans and Biloxi.

Year-Round: The First Saturday Gallery Walk and the Farmers Market make any weekend a good time to visit Ocean Springs.

For the complete Ocean Springs experience, see our Ocean Springs Weekend Guide, Best Restaurants in Ocean Springs, Ocean Springs Outdoor Activities, and Ocean Springs Arts & Culture.