With Thanksgiving now in the books, why not immediately turn our attentions toward Christmas? Mississippi is home to plenty of snow-globe towns, and even in the places you wouldn’t necessarily think should be the setting of a Hallmark movie, there are light shows set up each year that truly help bring the holiday season alive.
Recently, the state had three Christmas attractions – Hattiesburg Zoo’s Lights of the Wild, Merrehope mansion in Meridian, and Oxford on Ice inside mTrade Park – nominated for USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 Holiday Categories.
Those are just the tip of the iceberg, too, when it comes to dazzling light displays scattered throughout the state. Here’s where you can see some of the best Christmas lights in Mississippi.
Brandon – Magic of Lights
This dazzling, drive-through display is already open and runs every night beginning at 5:30 p.m. through Jan. 3 at the Brandon Amphitheater. Magic of Lights features prominent holiday scenes and characters with LED lights, along with an assembly of other shimmering exhibits like the state’s longest light tunnel at 400 feet. After enjoying the show from the comfort of your vehicle, step out and explore the Jolly Holiday Village, a walk-through element that includes visits with Santa, photo opportunities, and holiday treats.
For ticket prices and other details, click here.
Canton – Canton Christmas Festival
One of the state’s longest-running Christmas light displays is in downtown Canton. The Canton Christmas Festival has steadily grown into one of Mississippi’s premier holiday attractions, complete with more than 200,000 lights blanketing the Historic Courthouse Square, train and trolley rides, and more. It will be plugged in from Nov. 28 through Dec. 23.
It’s also free to check out the lights. For more details, click here.
Cleveland – 50 Nights of Lights
Based on the name and with the incoming use of your Advent calendar, one can figure out that Cleveland’s 50 Nights of Lights has been underway since Nov. 8. The Cotton Row-illuminating show will go through Jan. 1. It features over a million lights and can be walked through or enjoyed from the car.
It’s also free to the public. For more details, click here.
Gulfport – Harbor Lights Festival
Gulfport’s Harbor Lights Festival has quickly grown into not only the state’s largest light show but also a regional favorite. The switch will be flipped on Nov. 28 and stay on through Dec. 31. Decorated with over 1.5 million lights, this winter wonderland takes over 40 acres of Jones Park and includes everything from giant ornaments to elaborate festive scenes to a “dancing trees” show. Visitors can also check in on the elves at Santa’s Village, meet interactive reindeer, hop on a carnival or train ride, and visit with the big man himself. In 2022, it was touted by Yahoo as one of the best light displays in the U.S.
For ticket prices and other details, click here.
Hattiesburg – Lights of the Wild
Circling back to one of the displays up for a USA Today award, Hattiesburg Zoo’s Lights of the Wild will run for 11 nights this year: Dec. 5-7, Dec. 12-14, and Dec. 19-23. It features super-sized animals, larger-than-life flowers and plants, and festive holiday-décor. In addition to the zoo’s collection of lights, guests will have the chance to enjoy story time with Mrs. Claus, visits and photos with Santa, and unlimited rides on the Northern Lights Express Train and Candy Cane Carousel.
For ticket prices and other details, click here.
Meridian – Merrehope
The Merrehope mansion in Meridian always dazzles and lights up the historic side of the holidays. Visitors can step inside the Victorian abode and step back in time, experiencing 19th-century holiday traditions with more than 60 uniquely decorated trees throughout the home, veranda, and grounds. There are also various holiday events like Cocoa & Cookies with Mrs. Claus and Christmas Yoga taking place at Merrehope between now and the big day.
For ticket prices and other details, click here.
Oxford – Holly Jolly Holidays
Held at mTrade Park until Jan. 4, the sixth edition of the annual event couldn’t be complete without its Oxford on Ice skating rink. The festive rink allows people to glide into the holiday spirit, and when the skates are off, there’s a walkable lights trail worth your time. Oxford itself is, in fact, a Hallmark Christmas movie town. It was the filming location of the 2020 movie, “On the 12th Date of Christmas.” With the nearby square making you feel like you’re inside a snowglobe, it’s about as picturesque a Christmas as one can imagine.
For Holly Jolly Holidays ticket prices and other details, click here.
Pearl – The Southern Lights
The newest Christmas competitor in Rankin County is The Southern Lights at Trustmark Park. When the Mississippi Mud Monsters became the state’s newest professional baseball team, the club’s front office promised to bring more than baseball to the diamond. That’s exactly what they’re doing with this event that teed off on Nov. 21 and will run through early January. More than just a massive light show, it includes open-air ice skating and the chance to roast marshmallows at crackling fire pits, among other offerings.
For ticket prices and other details, click here.
Southaven – Southern Lights
While it has the same name as the light display in Pearl, Southaven’s Southern Lights offers DeSoto County residents a completely different experience. The drive-through light display set up in Central Park is open until Dec. 31. It features over half a million lights covering 116 acres. Don’t forget to tune your car radio to one of the local frequencies that perfectly sync holiday music to the lights themselves.
For ticket prices and other details, click here.
More lights
Mississippi is a state that celebrates Christmas like no other, meaning there are plenty of other opportunities to look at lights this holiday season. Others include Christmas in Natchez, Olive Branch’s Light Garden, Lewis Lights in Purvis, Christmas in the Park in Collins, Lazy Acres Farm in Chunky, Yazoo City’s Downtown Christmas Light Display, and more.