DOWNTOWN CANDLELIT CHRISTMAS

The Downtown Hattiesburg Association, in partnership with the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood Association, invites the public to celebrate the holiday season on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, and Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, for Downtown Candlelit Christmas sponsored by Visit Hattiesburg, Havard Pest Control, Main Street United Methodist Church, Mississippi Power, and Shipley’s Donuts.
The 2022 holiday weekend includes a variety of special events, all centered in and around Downtown Hattiesburg. Festivities include one of Hattiesburg’s longest running holiday traditions, the 46th Annual Victorian Candlelit Christmas, hosted by and taking place in the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood, along with the continuation of luminaries and other traditional activities expanded into the greater downtown district.
This year’s Downtown Candlelit Christmas event will include extended holiday shopping at many retail locations downtown and a nostalgic self-guided holiday window display contest, A Downtown Christmas Story. The Pocket Museum will host “Mice Before Christmas” event in the alley from 6-8pm, SMAA will host the 46th Annual Art Show in the Train Depot (10am – 7pm), Ramen Pop up event at Southern Prohibition, Downtown Christmas Adventure, a scavenger hunt coordinated by The Porter
and much more.
The Annual Victorian Candlelit Christmas event, hosted by the Historic Neighborhood Association, is a two-day holiday-favorite event that draws hundreds of visitors from across the region to explore the spectacle of 18,000 white bags with flickering candles, lining the sidewalks of the Historic Neighborhood and the downtown district. Guests are invited to experience the nostalgia of a simpler time as they travel historic streets lined with luminaries alongside more than 300 homes and businesses decorated for the holidays with garlands, bows, and twinkling lights. The Honey Island Clydesdales will be here both nights offering carriage rides through the neighborhood. Carriage rides are $10/ person. Come early for photo opportunities.
Sacred Heart Church will be caroling on the church front steps, Bay Street Presbyterian will host Caroling on the steps at 6:30PM, Court Street United Methodist will have pictures with Santa and food in the Christmas Cafe. There will be food trucks at Walthall Park along with festive photo opportunities and holiday home tours that will feature 2 historic homes and the historic Elks Building in downtown, all will be a part of the 2022 event offerings.
With Downtown’s “Go Cup” ordinance, adults can grab a drink and stroll through the candle lined streets, enjoying the activities throughout downtown.