Page 53 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2016

New for this year are — first
and foremost — the additions of thousands of lights throughout Jones Park and the placement of several huge lighted displays including
a 20-foot-by 21-foot pirate ship. Another great upgrade for this
year’s event will be the presence of an old time traditional Christmas Market hosted by none other than
the Coast’s own Ron Myers. Ron has promised some amazing vendors with many exciting wares that will be perfect for holiday shopping.
And how could they forget good old St Nick? Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on site under the Barksdale Pavilion EVERY night of the show through December 23 at which time they will return to the North Pole and tend
to their season duties. Santa and his helpers will be central to an amazing new Santa’s Village that will be sure to wow everyone, especially the youngsters.
Just a few of the other features you’ll experience at Gulfport’s 2016 Harbor Lights Winter Festival will be live entertainment almost every night, an incredible selection of various foods including seasonal snacks and hot chocolate, exciting rides such as Santa’s Big Ferris Wheel and Holiday Carousel, a Holly Copter and a kid-sized train ride that’ll keep ‘em coming back for more, a big train ride that will
carry spectators through the dazzling lights, and a free Santa Trolley that will travel the show’s grounds, keeping passengers warm and cozy as they view the amazing light displays and listen to the wonderful assortment of holiday music.
But everything you’ve just read can’t hold even a candle to the gorgeous and festive light show
and brilliant displays around which this whole event is centered. Make plans now to come on down to Jones Park and take in the thousands of lights as they move and change in perfect harmony to the NEW hour- long holiday music extravaganza. If memories are to be made this winter season, Gulfport’s Jones Park and Municipal Marina is surely the place to make that happen.
The $5 admission and entry fee for the show includes free and convenient parking, free shuttle rides, amazing lights and displays, access to the on-site Christmas Market, nightly entertainment and interaction with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a whole host of other great experiences. The City is also offering discount admission tickets where the purchaser gets 12 visits for the price of 8 — a $60 value
for only $40. Be sure to bring your smart phone or other smart device and experience first-hand the live and very cool SOCIAL MEDIA
TAGBOARD at #gptharborlights. Show visitors are encouraged
to take advantage of the Park
and Ride option offered by Coast Transient Authority. This nightly service includes covered parking and free, heated shuttle service to and from the venue. To access the CTA Parking Garage, visitors are advised to turn north off Highway 90 at the intersection of 20th Avenue. For those who’d prefer to park on site, visitors should turn south off Highway 90 at the intersection of 25th Avenue (Highway 49).
Comparatively speaking, the Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival is probably the best holiday light show you’ll find anywhere along the entire Gulf Coast. No doubt, this will be an experience you’ll most assuredly be telling your friends and family about for months and years to come, and the folks with the City of Gulfport can’t wait to open the gates.
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December 2016 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 53
Second Harbor Lights Winter Festival
will be bigger & better
If you tell the Leisure Services staff with the City of Gulfport that it’s already been a year since the inception of the first Harbor Lights Winter Festival, they’d probably be amazed to hear that! Why, you ask...Well, in their world, it’s been a virtually non-stop effort to produce and make the second annual show even bigger and significantly better.
While last year’s attraction drew more than 45,000 visitors to view and experience the show’s lights, music, food, and other attractions, this year’s show is sure to dazzle even the biggest Grinch. The City of Gulfport continues to be extremely thankful to the Island View Casino Resort for making this event possible and extends special thanks to the City Council and the Administration for their vision and support in bringing the Harbor Lights Winter Festival to life.
Beginning the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday), and continuing nightly through January 1, the show opens nightly at 5:30 p.m. and gates close at 9:30 p.m. Show ends at 10:30 p.m. Please make note that the show will be dark on December 24 and 25.