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If you’re looking to ditch the typical hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the South offers plenty of charming small towns to get you in the spirit or celebrate the start to a new year. Whether you’re hoping for a secret coastal getaway, exciting activities for the whole family, or an old-fashioned Christmas celebration, here’s a rundown of four Southern towns to visit this holiday season.
4 Small Towns to Visit This Holiday Season
Coastal Mississippi
If you want to spend your holiday along the Gulf Coast, complete with fresh seafood, parades, festivals, and shopping, consider a trip to Coastal Mississippi. Offering all of the ingredients for what the town calls a “Secret Coast Fantasy Holiday,” you’re guaranteed to stumble upon a unique waterfront community packed with events to make the most of your season.
No matter where your Coastal Mississippi travels take you, there are plenty of holiday-centric events to attend. The Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival runs from Friday, November 25, through Sunday, December 31, and has served as the most prominent holiday tradition in Mississippi since 2015. Offering carnival rides, visits with Santa, light displays, and more, it’s no wonder the festival has been named one the “most magical shows in Mississippi” by Only In Your State.
The Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival was featured in the 2017 Lifetime movie “Christmas in Mississippi.” Image: Eddie Robinson of RPF Media
There are Christmas parades, and then there’s Biloxi’s Christmas on the Water Boat Parade. Taking place on Saturday, December 3, the event features boats decked out in holiday decor as well as a post-parade fireworks display. The best viewing locations are between the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor and Casino Row or between the Biloxi Lighthouse and Beau Rivage Resort & Casino. For an even more unique viewing experience, hop aboard Captain Pete to enjoy a cruise down the Coast as you take in the parade and fireworks.
The annual Bay St. Louis Christmas Parade is another beloved holiday event in Coastal Mississippi. The parade is part of Bay St. Louis’s “Christmas in the Bay” and takes place on Saturday, November 26. Complete with festive floats and a Christmas tree lighting, you can enjoy a full evening of holiday fun. Since the event is held on Small Business Saturday, we recommend arriving early to knock out some last-minute holiday shopping. Standout shops include Sassy Bird Interiors for home goods, Bijoubel for handcrafted goods, and Fleurty Girl for clothing, gifts, accessories, and more.
To say that boats in Biloxi’s Christmas on the Water Boat Parade go all out for the holidays would be an understatement. Image: Alex Demyan
Even in the winter, Coastal Mississippi’s temperatures remain warm, inviting you to stroll through an open-air market. The Holiday Marketplace at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center is a free event held on Saturday, December 3. In addition to shopping, attendees can enjoy visits with Santa, live animal demonstrations, a chili tasting, music, and more.
With so many things to do and see, you’ll likely need a place to stay during your visit. Luckily, Coastal Mississippi offers a plethora of world-class casino resorts and boutique hotels. You don’t even have to leave your hotel to see over-the-top Christmas lights and displays. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Palace Casino Resort, Hotel Pass Christian, the White House Hotel, and more host holiday events and deck their halls for the season.
A stay at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino is guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit, offering plenty of holiday decor, a Broadway-style Christmas musical, and more. Image: Coastal Mississippi
Oxford, MS
When it comes to holiday fun, Oxford offers events and activities for the whole family — from ice skating to photos with Santa, holiday markets, and more. The famed celebration is known as Holly Jolly Holidays, and it returns for a third year in 2022, starting Monday, November 21, and running through Monday, January 2.
Holly Jolly Holidays events occur at Oxford’s Old City Armory Pavillion. Celebrations kick off with the opening of the new-and-improved ice skating rink, where skaters can enjoy an evening under stringed lights and holiday decorations. Skating hours are Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Note: The rink is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day). Tickets are $12 per person and include skate rentals.
This year’s Holly Jolly Holidays ice skating rink is nearly 4,000 square feet. Image: Visit Oxford Mississippi
If you’re looking to do some last-minute gift hunting, Holly Jolly Holidays also includes a handful of shopping events. On the first three Saturdays of December, you can peruse booths set up by local artisans outside of the pavilion. On Saturday, December 10, you can shop from Double Decker Arts Festival vendors as they set up tents for holiday shopping. The final market, the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council’s Makers’ Market, takes place on Saturday, December 17, and offers everything from art to home goods, delicious food items, and more.
For more shopping opportunities, head to the city’s historic town square (known simply as “The Square”) to peruse a variety of options including clothing, books, and music. For on-trend clothing and accessories, we recommend Cicada, D-Squared Clothing, or Style Assembly. For a collection of thoughtfully curated gifts, pay a visit to Katherine Beck, a shop offering everything from home decor to jewelry, candles, and more. For book or music lovers, head to Square Books or The End of All Music. Or, for a little bit of everything, pay a visit to the South’s oldest department store, Neilson’s Department Store.
If a unique Christmas lights display is what you’re after, The Square’s Canopy of Lights has been an Oxford staple for almost 60 years. You can enjoy strings of environmentally-friendly white LED lights that hang from the courthouse and beautifully decorated trees.
Oxford’s Canopy of Lights is a tradition that dates back to the 1960s. Image: Visit Oxford Mississippi
Walking through the streets of downtown Oxford is like strolling through a winter wonderland! Image: Visit Oxford Mississippi
If you prefer to enjoy Christmas decor from the warmth of a cozy home, plan your trip around the annual Doors of Hope Holiday House Tour. This year’s event returns on Saturday, December 3, and features five Oxford homes in the Park Drive and Zilla Avent Drive area. In addition to home tours, attendees can enjoy live entertainment, a raffle, and beverages.
If you’re looking to stay in town for a few days, Chancellor’s House and The Graduate are great boutique options, and they’re less than a five-minute drive from Holly Jolly Holidays! Oxford’s Courtyard by Marriott is another great nearby option, and if you used the code HOL at checkout, you receive 15% off your stay.
Dahlonega, GA
Dahlonega is a popular destination year-round, but when it comes time to celebrate the holidays, the town truly shines … literally. Everywhere you turn, the town is decked out from top to bottom in twinkling lights and garland.
Celebrations begin the day after Thanksgiving and run through the end of December. Known as Dahlonega’s Old-Fashioned Christmas, it’s no wonder why the town has served as the backdrop for Hallmark and Lifetime movies, including Christmas in Homestead and A Taste of Christmas. The annual Old-Fashioned Christmas kick-off event, the Lighting of the Square, includes thousands of twinkling lights, horse-drawn carriage rides, and live music. The event begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 25, but if you can’t make it to the kick-off event, don’t fret! The lights are lit every night through Sunday, January 8.
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Dahlonega deserves a spot on your travel bucket list this holiday season. Image: Michele Kraft Deblois
Another standout feature of Dahlonega’s Old-Fashioned Christmas is the annual Christmas parade. This year’s event begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 10, and winds through the streets of Dahlonega’s Historic District. Grab a seat on the sidewalk and watch as a handful of festive floats and characters stroll through the streets — from Santa Claus himself to elves, shepherds, and more.
One of the best ways to experience the magic of Dahlonega’s Old-Fashioned Christmas is from a horse-drawn carriage. Courtesy of Gold City Corral & Carriage Company, you can sit back and relax as you take in the lights and decor of the city’s historic district from a light-up, Cinderella-like carriage or a more traditional buggy. Rides are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and reservations cannot be made, so be sure to get downtown early!
Book a carriage ride to take in Dahlonega’s holiday lights and decorations in a unique way. Image: Michele Kraft Deblois
If there are still a few names left on your holiday shopping list, head to the historic town square. A favorite among locals and tourists alike, the Dahlonega General Store takes shoppers back in time to the 1800s. For everything from custom gift baskets to home decor and self-care products, stop by Cranberry Corners for some great last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers. If you’re shopping for a fashionista, Pink Alley Boutique and DressUp both offer on-trend clothing and accessories.
Head to Dahlonega’s historic town square to peruse the charming boutiques and finish the rest of your holiday shopping. Image: Discover Dahlonega
The Historic Holly Theater is a must-visit Dahlonega treasure any time of year, but it’s also known for hosting spectacular shows during the holiday season. This year, the theater presents She Loves Me, a Christmas-themed romance that tells the story of secret pen pals. The play is based on a book by Joe Masteroff and features music from the writers of Fiddler on the Roof. The show is perfect for all ages, with performances beginning Friday, December 2, and running every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through the end of the month.
Natchitoches, LA
Not only is Natchitoches Louisiana’s oldest city, but it has also been named one of the best Southern cities to celebrate the holidays by Southern Living. While there’s much to do and see in this small town during the holidays, the city is best known for its Natchitoches Christmas Festival.
The celebration began as a one-day event in 1927 at the hands of the Superintendent of Utilities for Natchitoches, Max Burgdorf, who decided the town needed an event to celebrate the holiday season. From there, Max bought enough 100-watt light bulbs to shine throughout Front Street and created a beautiful display to sit on the Downtown Riverbank. The now six-week event is full of thousands of Christmas lights, over 100 displays, weekly fireworks shows, authentic Louisiana cuisine, and so much more.
The Christmas season officially kicks off in Natchitoches on Saturday, November 19, with the Turn on the Holidays Ceremony. The event includes live music and a spectacular fireworks display followed by live music from the Kelli Roberts Band and the Nola Dukes Band.
Offering weekly shows, there are plenty of opportunities to see the Natchitoches Christmas Festival’s fireworks display. Image: Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau
The main event, the Festival of Lights Parade, is slated for Saturday, December 3. The fun kicks off at 7 a.m. with the Mistletoe Market, an annual shopping event that raises funds for women in difficult situations and offers everything from arts and crafts to festive food and drinks. This year’s parade features former Northwestern State baseball players Adam Oller and David Fry as co-grand marshals. After the parade, be sure to stick around for yet another fireworks display and live music.
The fun continues through Saturday, December 31, so there are multiple opportunities to join in the fun. The Light the Way 5K and Fun Run takes place on Sunday, November 20, and is lit entirely by the town’s Christmas lights. You also can’t miss the annual lighted boat parade on Saturday, December 10, which includes decked-out boats competing for cash prizes on the Downtown Riverbank. For interior design fans, check out the Christmas Tour of Homes, which offers guided tours of historic homes, stories of their history, signature tastings, and, of course, plenty of holiday decor.
Like other towns on this list, Natchitoches boasts plenty of opportunities for last-minute holiday shopping. In fact, on the festival’s opening night, shops that are part of the Historic District Business Association are open late until 7 p.m. Shops include Tres Bien Antiques, Cane River Kitchenware, Simply Chic Boutique, Louisiana Purchase, and many more.
If you need to refuel after a day full of holiday fun and shopping, there are plenty of delicious restaurants nearby. Head to Lasyone’s Meat Pie Kitchen and Restaurant for an authentic Natchitoches meat pie, Mama’s Oyster House for seafood and fresh Louisiana oysters, or the nearby Papa’s Bar & Grill for a juicy steak.
Lasyone’s Meat Pie Kitchen and Restaurant is Santa approved! Image: Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau
Enjoy your holiday excursions — wherever they may take you!
This article is sponsored by Coastal Mississippi and Visit Oxford Mississippi.
