When to plan your trip to Laurel, Mississippi
There are so many fun things to do in our home town throughout the year, but if you aren’t a local like us – it can be hard to know when is the best time to plan your trip to visit Laurel.
We’ve collected a few of our favorite activities that are best enjoyed at specific times throughout the year. Read on to find the perfect time for your trip!
Planning a Spring trip to Laurel, MS
Springtime is quite possibly the very best time to visit Laurel. We will start to see warmer temperatures as early as February (some days even get up to 80 degrees), much sooner than most of the United States. Come thaw out with us and enjoy shopping in downtown boutiques with their doors opened wide to the breeze, and attend a variety of spring events and happenings throughout the city.
HGTV Home Town Season Premier & Finale Parties · Laurel Mercantile
FREE · HGTV HOME TOWN
The first essential tourist events are the outdoor parties held by the Home Town team for the season premiers and finales of the show. These events are open to the public and are a great opportunity to meet the folks behind the show, including Erin and Ben Napier! Join us for these uniquely-Laurel celebrations each year!
LOCAL’S TIP: Bring a chair and a big appetite! Thanks to local organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, these events feature a variety of awesome local food trucks and fare from our downtown eateries!
The Gardens of Laurel’s Historic District · 5th, 6th, 7th & Euclid Avenues
FREE · ACCESSIBLE
We love our gardens in the South, and we want to share their incredible beauty with you! Enjoy a walk under the towering oaks or simply take a drive through Laurel’s historic district to experience a variety of carefully tended gardens and flowering trees.
Euclid Avenue and Park is one of the most featured areas on HGTV’s Home Town, and one of Laurel’s most darling neighborhoods.
LOCAL’S TIP: Stop by the Laurel Welcome Center at 401 Central Ave. to pick up the official “Walking Tour” brochure with step-by-step directions.
Touch A Truck · 2nd Saturday in April · Downtown Laurel
KID-FRIENDLY · SENSORY-FRIENDLY
Kids of all ages stand in awe of big, hard-working trucks and vehicles. Touch a Truck is a perfect activity to get up close and personal with all manner of tough giants. Looking for an activity for those with sensory sensitivities or children with autism? TAT features a special “quiet hour” designed to allow them to enjoy the fun, without the worry of loud horns or flashing lights.
LOCAL’S TIP: Buy your tickets early for a special discount. Click here for more info. Ticket sales go back into the community to fund restoration projects and to help make Downtown even more beautiful.
Downtown Crawfest · 3rd Saturday in April · Magnolia & Front St.’s
FAMILY-FRIENDLY · FREE ENTRY FOR KIDS UNDER 5
Have you ever experienced a southern crawfish boil? Here is your chance to get a taste of this fun experience as cooks of all experience levels go head to head to see who comes out as the official champion. Enjoy great local beverages, live music, and delicious food at this new Laurel event!
LOCAL’S TIP: This is a great opportunity to tour Downtown and visit local merchants such as Laurel Mercantile (Erin & Ben’s shop as featured on HGTV Home Town) and Lott Furniture on Front St, and the boutiques on Magnolia Street.
Day in the Park · 1st Saturday in May · Mason Park
FREE ADMISSION · KID-FRIENDLY
Every local kid grew up looking forward to that warm spring day where the whole family would load up in the car and drive down to Mason Park for a day of fun kids’ activities, local art, awesome arts & crafts vendors and great local music. Day in the Park is the perfect event for those planning an early May trip, where you and your family can truly experience Laurel like generations of local families have before.
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LOCAL’S TIP: Bring a folding chair or blanket to sit in the grass under the pines and enjoy great food while listening to local artists and productions.
Visiting Laurel in the Summer
Headed down to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, or the Florida beaches? Stop into Laurel for great summer fun and amazing shopping. If there’s anything we know in South Mississippi, it’s how to do summer right!
Kids’ Activities & Playgrounds
KID-FRIENDLY
Let the littles stretch their legs and get out their wiggles with a stop in a Laurel. Click here for a full list of kids’ activities and playgrounds in Laurel, many within easy walking distance of downtown!
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LOCAL’S TIP: Mason Park has the best shade cover for warmer summer days, and the Laurel Sportsplex splash pad is easily accessible and free for a truly cooling experience.
Blues Bash · June · Lauren Rogers Museum of Art
LOCAL MUSIC · FAMILY-FRIENDLY
No trip to Mississippi is complete without experiencing the uniquely-southern sound of the blues. This annual event is a showcase of the best blues musicians Mississippi has to offer and a celebration of our long history of supporting America’s music.
LOCAL’S TIP: Click here to purchase tickets online before your trip.
4th of July Fireworks Shows · July · Downtown Laurel
FREE · FAMILY-FRIENDLY
The 4th of July Fireworks have long been a childhood staple in Laurel. Held each year at both the Sawmill Square Mall, and more recently, Jones Family Medicine Clinic – both shows are free and open to the general public.
LOCAL’S TIP: Watch the Sawmill Square show from Pinehurst Park in Downtown Laurel for a truly local experience, complete with refreshments!
Should you visit Laurel in the Fall?
After a long summer, Laurelites always welcome the cooler temperatures of the Fall. You’ll see lots of locals out and about, walking through the historic district, shopping in downtown shops, exploring their hometown and looking forward to the fun of festival season! Join us for these great fall events in Laurel!
The Loblolly Festival · 1st Saturday of October · Downtown Laurel
FREE · FAMILY-FRIENDLY
The Loblolly Festival is an absolute must for any trip to Laurel in the fall. Laurel’s biggest festival celebrates our history as a lumber town, complete with our beloved mascot – The Loblolly Lumberjack – played by the star of Home Town himself, Big Ben Napier! Make a special trip for this one, folks!
LOCAL’S TIP: Park in the exterior parking lots around downtown, and be sure to leave some room in your car – you’re sure to leave with some great finds!
Deason Home Ghost Tours · Ellisville
HISTORY
The Deason Home holds secrets of one of the most interesting parts of Jones County’s history. Visit our neighboring town of Ellisville for this fun historical experience, and you might just meet a ghost while you explore our counties’ storied past.
The South Mississippi Fair · HWY 11
FAMILY-FRIENDLY · ARTS & CRAFTS
Laurel’s historic fairgrounds are never put to better use than when the fair comes to town! Folks travel from all over Mississippi to attend the 2nd largest fair in the state each fall. Enjoy the fun of the rides (check for unlimited armband nights for the best value), incredible local and traveling fair food, arts & crafts, livestock shows and live music!
LOCAL’S TIP: Visit during lunch hours for that delicious and addictive fair food, without an admission fee or the nighttime crowds.
Even winter is a great time to visit Laurel!
Have you ever experienced the holiday season in the south? You’re truly in for a treat if you are here for some of our most cherished annual events!
Kiwanis Pancake Day · 1st Saturday of December · YWCO & 1st Baptist
FAMILY-FRIENDLY · GREAT FOOD
Get ready for one of the quintessential local experiences! Pancake Day is a sign and symbol of what it is like to say #iliveinlaurel, as locals of all walks of life gather together for a meal before or after the annual Christmas Parade. Locals and visitors alike will line the sidewalks in anticipation of a delicious meal of pancakes with butter and syrup served with sausage and cooked up just right.
LOCAL’S TIP: Due to its popularity, the event is now held at two separate locations to accommodate the crowds. Check out the YWCO on Oak Street in downtown, or First Baptist Church on 6th Ave.
Sertoma Christmas Parade · 1st Saturday of December · Downtown Laurel
FAMILY-FRIENDLY · FREE
Did you know Laurel hosts the longest Christmas parade in the state of Mississippi? Join us the first Saturday in December for this morning parade that loops around the Sawmill Square Mall and through Downtown Laurel. You might even spy a jolly, white-bearded fellow with treats for the littles.
LOCAL’S TIP: Come to downtown early to claim a spot, visit the shops and grab a hot coffee at Lee’s Coffee & Tea!
Christmas at the Village · Landrum’s · HWY 15 S
FAMILY-FRIENDLY · HISTORY
Landrum’s Homestead and Village, or “Landrum’s Country” to the locals, is a great attraction any time of the year, but it is most perfect during the holidays. Take a walk through a recreation of a historic southern town, complete with cabins, blacksmith demonstrations, and the most quaint little chapel all decorated for Christmas. This is an absolute must-visit for holiday tourists!
LOCAL’S TIP: Admission is $10 and walk-ins are welcome year-round.
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