AL.com >> "Merry & Bright In Hattiesburg, Mississippi"
The holiday season is just kicking off in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and there are enough events and shopping opportunities to keep you busy until Kris Kringle comes knocking.
The holiday season is just kicking off in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and there are enough events and shopping opportunities to keep you busy until Kris Kringle comes knocking.
If all you want for Christmas is to see huge smiles as family and friends unwrap their gifts, head to HBURG to find the perfect present! Last year, Hattiesburg was named a top 25 city for holiday shopping in the nation by Expedia. From the Pine Belt Holiday Expo and Christmas Market on Dec. 1 at the Historic Train Depot to Zoo Lights and Holiday Market at Hattiesburg Zoo Dec. 14 - 23, visitors and locals can find treats to stuff their stockings with all month long!
Rock around the Christmas tree at The Lucky Rabbit during their extended hours on Nov. 23 — 24, Dec. 1, and Dec. 6 — 9 or snag your pic with the elusive Mr. Claus at Simply Vintage on Dec. 8. HBURG has an impressive variety of local boutiques and nationally-recognized retailers to help you mark off gifts for everyone on your list.
Now that you’ve checked your list twice, enjoy the locals’ favorite seasonal events like the 68th annual Christmas parade and tree lightingin Downtown Hattiesburg on Nov. 29. Or, come all ye faithful to the 42nd annual Victorian Candlelit Christmas in the downtown avenues on Dec. 8 - 9. You’ll be dreaming of a brightChristmas as you ride in a horse-drawn carriage past thousands of paper luminaries lighting up Hattiesburg’s historic streets.
New to this Olde Tyme Christmas tradition is movies in the park and the Ghosts of Christmas Past haunted walking tour. Kick back and enjoy a Christmas classic or stroll through the streets to find unique art pieces, but whatever you do, feel free to do it while sipping your favorite holiday beverage in Hattiesburg’s go-cup zone!
Here are a few other holiday events to keep you jolly all month long:
Do you hear what I hear? It’s the sound of your stomach rumbling! So much shopping is sure to work up an appetite for more than just milk and cookies. With more than 200 local choices ready to dish out the perfect meal, parties of one to 30 will enjoy eating in HBURG as much as they love walking in a winter wonderland. Burgers are a Hattiesburg classic year-round, but if you’re looking for scrumptious holiday cooking that only comes around once a year, check out one of these local favorites for the perfect comfort food meal:
You’ve seen the sights, shopped the stores, and chowed down on some reindeer food, but before you leave town, stop by the Visitors Center for complimentary coffee and cookies. Visit the gift shop to represent HBURG everywhere you go with tshirts, hats, blankets, and more! Customize a gift basket with local products or buy them individually.
So, head to HBURG this season to enjoy the good tidings and holiday cheer! For more information about the Hub City, find VisitHATTIESBURG online at VisitHBURG.org.
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