10 Mississippi Gulf Coast Seafood Festivals That Fill The Air With Flavor And Fun

Close your eyes and breathe it in: salty Gulf breezes laced with the smoky scent of shrimp sizzling on open grills, the crack of oyster shells giving way to briny sweetness, and crawfish boils steaming like edible fireworks.

On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, seafood festivals aren’t just gatherings, they’re full-blown sensory feasts where plates overflow, fiddles and brass bands spark dancing in the streets, and the community spirit bubbles louder than a gumbo pot at a Sunday boil. It’s a place where tradition, flavor, and celebration meet, and every bite tastes like the Coast’s soul.

10. Biloxi Seafood Festival

Shrimp lovers unite at this Biloxi Town Green bash where seafood fanatics devour Gulf treasures while live bands create the soundtrack to your food coma. Could anything beat a gumbo competition where local chefs battle for bragging rights?

Kids get their own zone of fun while parents sample fresh catches transformed into culinary masterpieces. The $5 entry fee might be the best deal on the coast!

9. Blessing Of The Fleet & Shrimp Festival

Since 1929, decorated boats have paraded through Biloxi Channel in this colorful maritime tradition that officially launches shrimping season. Where else can you witness vessels decked out like floating Mardi Gras floats while priests bestow blessings?

Meanwhile, onshore festivities include mountains of perfectly boiled shrimp, toe-tapping music, and family games that celebrate Gulf Coast heritage.

8. Our Lady Of The Gulf Crab Festival

Crab lovers cheer loudest on the Fourth of July in Bay St. Louis, where steaming pots and soft-shell bites perfume the air with that unmistakable Gulf sweetness.

Few thrills top savoring tender crab meat while fireworks crackle overhead, a feast for both palate and soul. Families gather for more than seafood, too – 5K runners pound the pavement, kids whirl on carnival rides, and shoppers browse endless crafts. A pocketful of cash keeps the fun flowing since many vendors skip plastic.

7. St. Clare Seafood Festival

Memorial Day weekend in Waveland smells of golden fried shrimp and briny oysters tucked into pillowy French bread, each bite crackling with temptation.

Po’boys this good laugh in the face of discipline. Beyond the feast, gleaming classic cars roll in like chrome jewels, while carnival rides spin and squeal with joy. Live music drifts through the air, turning the church grounds into a buzzing celebration where flavors, engines, and melodies all compete for the spotlight.

6. Gautier Mullet & Music Fest

Though mullet might sound fishy to outsiders, locals know this underrated catch makes for scrumptious eating when properly prepared. Gautier’s fall block party transforms this humble fish into delicacies that’ll convert even the most skeptical seafood doubters.

Regional vendors showcase coastal treasures while the arts market offers unique treasures. The full music lineup keeps the energy high as autumn breezes carry delicious aromas through town.

5. Gulf Coast Oyster Cook-Off & Festival

Oyster lovers flock to Point Cadet Plaza, noses catching the smoky sizzle of charbroiled shells mingling with the salty tang of raw delicacies.

Chef-driven twists add flair, each booth promising a burst of briny joy on the tongue. People’s choice tastings hand the crown to the crowd, turning diners into judges.

Once bellies are full, discarded shells find second life in reef restoration, proving a feast here feeds both community and coast.

4. Gulf Coast Shrimp Tasting & Cook-Off

Shrimp fans circle September and October with hungry anticipation – two weekends when Gulf “pink gold” takes center stage.

First come casual tastings, the air rich with garlicky steam and fried aromas, then the heat rises in October as chefs battle to prove just how many personalities shrimp can wear. Tasting tickets open the door to endless bites, from buttery scampi to spicy boils, while live bands keep toes tapping as steadily as forks keep moving.

3. Crawfish Music Festival

April turns the Mississippi Coast Coliseum into a crawfish carnival, trays piled high with steaming, spice-dusted mudbugs begging to be peeled. Visitors wrestle with one tasty dilemma, savor slowly or plunge straight into buttery, Cajun-fired bliss.

Fair rides whirl in the distance while headlining concerts thunder through the Gulf air. Each breeze carries a duet of music and mouthwatering crawfish aroma, wrapping the whole festival in pure coastal joy.

2. Billy Creel Memorial Wooden & Classic Boat Show

Maritime history buffs gather at Biloxi’s Schooner Pier for this unique celebration where gorgeous wooden vessels showcase Gulf Coast craftsmanship. When was the last time you toured a historic schooner while munching on fresh-caught seafood?

The Maritime Museum provides the perfect backdrop for this nautical feast. Waterfront music creates a festive atmosphere as visitors admire lovingly restored boats that tell the story of Mississippi’s seafaring past.

1. Mississippi Seafood Cook-Off

Gulfport’s Centennial Plaza turns into an arena where culinary gladiators face off, knives flashing and pans sizzling with the Gulf’s freshest catch. The air fills with the tang of grilled snapper, buttery shrimp, and smoky oysters as chefs chase the coveted crown of Mississippi’s seafood champion.

Crowds join the fray as judges, sampling each masterpiece bite by bite. Victory brings more than bragging rights – it secures a spot on the national stage, where Mississippi flavor fights for glory.