Thanksgiving in Mississippi: Turkey Trots, Parades and Open Doors

At a glance

• Where: Statewide: the Gulf Coast, the Hills, the Capital/River region and the Natchez Trace
• When: Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November; the Saturday before and the first weekend of December carry most of the races and parades
• Cost: Turkey trots charge a registration fee; parades and park grounds are typically free; check each official site
• Plan ahead: Many museums and visitor centers close on Thanksgiving Day itself; the Friday after is the easier day

Thanksgiving in Mississippi is best spent on a Thursday-morning turkey trot on the Gulf Coast or in the north of the state, followed by a quiet outdoor day, with holiday parades and light shows arriving on the weekends around it. Most museums and federal visitor centers close on Thanksgiving Day, so the Friday after is when the state opens back up.

This guide is organized by region. Every pick below was checked against its own official page, and the parts we could not confirm are flagged so you can call ahead.

Where are the turkey trots in Mississippi?

The turkey trots in Mississippi that we could confirm are in Bay St. Louis, Bruce and Hattiesburg. Two run on Thanksgiving morning and one runs the Saturday before.

Bay St. Louis Turkey Trot 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run (Gulf Coast)

The Bay St. Louis Turkey Trot starts and finishes at the Train Depot, 1928 Depot Way, in Bay St. Louis, and it is held on Thanksgiving morning. The registration page lists a 5K at 8:00 a.m., a 1-mile fun run at 9:00 a.m. and awards at 9:30 a.m. for the most recent edition, and it has been running for more than a decade. Packet pickup opens early, and the page warns runners to allow for railroad crossing delays near the depot. Sign up through the official RunSignup page. Bay St. Louis is a small coastal town, so it pairs well with a walk through the old downtown afterward; see our Bay St. Louis guide.

5K Turkey Trot benefiting St. Jude, Bruce Park (Hills)

Bruce Park Playground, 218 Hastings Street in Bruce, hosts a Thanksgiving-morning 5K that raises money for St. Jude. The RunSignup page lists the 5K sign-up for 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. rather than a single gun time, plus a free kids' fun run for ages 1 to 11 right after the 5K. Bruce is a small town in the north of the state, so expect a neighborly crowd rather than a big-city field. Details are on the official registration page.

The Ford Foundation Turkey Trot, Hattiesburg (Pines)

The Ford Foundation Turkey Trot is a 5K and 1-mile fun run at Town Square Park, 100 Main Street in Hattiesburg. It is held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, not on the holiday itself, which makes it a good choice if Thursday belongs to family. The registration page lists check-in at 8:00 a.m., the 5K at 9:00 a.m. and the fun run at 10:00 a.m. for the most recent edition. Book through RunSignup. More in our Hattiesburg guide.

What is open on Thanksgiving Day in Mississippi?

Very little that is staffed is open on Thanksgiving Day, but the outdoors is. Federal visitor centers and many museums close that Thursday and return on Friday.

Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo (Hills)

The Natchez Trace Parkway Tupelo Visitor Center, 2680 Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo, is typically open 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily and is closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and January 1, according to the National Park Service hours page. That makes Friday after Thanksgiving the day to stop in for a map. The parkway is a National Park Service road, and the roadway itself is open 24 hours, weather permitting, so a Thanksgiving drive is still on; call 662-680-4027 for current conditions. See the NPS hours page and our Tupelo guide.

Elvis Presley Birthplace, Tupelo (Hills)

The Elvis Presley Birthplace, 306 Elvis Presley Drive in Tupelo, lists its grounds as open 24 hours, while house and museum hours are typically Monday to Saturday 9 to 4 and Sunday 1 to 4, with the ticket office closing at 3 p.m. We could not find Thanksgiving hours online, so phone (662) 841-1245 before you plan a tour. Even if the buildings are closed, the grounds, the childhood church and the statue of Elvis at 13 are there to walk. The house itself is a two-room home built by his father, grandfather and uncle. Official site: elvispresleybirthplace.com.

Gulf Islands National Seashore, Davis Bayou, Ocean Springs (Gulf Coast)

The Davis Bayou Area of Gulf Islands National Seashore, 3500 Park Road in Ocean Springs, closes its facilities on Thanksgiving Day, because the National Park Service says all national seashore facilities are closed on New Year's, Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. The William M. Colmer Visitor Center is typically open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., so Friday is the day to go. One note from the park: swimming is not allowed anywhere in Davis Bayou. Details on the official Davis Bayou page; nearby, see our Ocean Springs guide.

Biloxi Lighthouse and Visitors Center, Biloxi (Gulf Coast)

The Biloxi Visitors Center, 1050 Beach Boulevard in Biloxi, is typically open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on Thanksgiving Day, per the City of Biloxi page. The Friday after is not listed as a closure, but confirm before you drive over. The center sits beside the Biloxi Lighthouse on U.S. 90, and its second-floor porch puts you at eye level with the lighthouse beacon. See the City of Biloxi page and our Biloxi guide.

Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Jackson (Capital/River)

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, 222 North Street in Jackson, is closed on Thanksgiving Day. Its visit page lists typical hours of Tuesday to Saturday 9 to 5 and Sunday afternoons, closed Mondays, and it does not list a closure for the Friday after. The museum has eight galleries on the movement in Mississippi. The visit page lists Sunday hours as 1 to 5 p.m.; check the official visit page or call 601-576-6800. More in our Jackson guide.

What are the holiday parades and light shows?

The holiday-season openings in Mississippi come in the weeks after Thanksgiving, with the best-confirmed ones in Jackson and Oxford.

City of Jackson Holiday Parade (Capital/River)

The City of Jackson Holiday Parade runs through downtown Jackson, starting at Amite and Jefferson streets, with illuminated floats, marching bands, community groups and Santa. It is free, and start times have varied from year to year, so confirm the time on the Visit Jackson listing.

Holly Jolly Holidays, Oxford (Hills)

Holly Jolly Holidays at mTrade Park, 4259 Old Sardis Road in Oxford, is a multi-week season that the official Visit Oxford page describes with a Walk of Lights, Oxford on Ice, a Peppermint Trail and Santa visits. It starts the weekend before Thanksgiving and runs into the new year, so it covers the whole holiday weekend. See Visit Oxford and our Oxford guide.

This year's dates

Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday, November 26, and the Friday after is November 27. These dates come from each event's official page.

• Bay St. Louis Turkey Trot: Thursday, November 26, 5K at 8:00 a.m., fun run at 9:00 a.m.
• Bruce Turkey Trot for St. Jude: Thursday, November 26, with 5K sign-up listed from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
• Ford Foundation Turkey Trot, Hattiesburg: Saturday, November 21, 5K at 9:00 a.m.
• City of Jackson Holiday Parade: Saturday, December 5, listed from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
• Oxford Holly Jolly Holidays: November 21 through January 3.

What about Vicksburg, the state parks and the aquarium?

Vicksburg National Military Park (3201 Clay Street, Vicksburg) and the Mississippi Aquarium (2100 E Beach Boulevard, Gulfport) are both operating, but their official pages did not state Thanksgiving hours when we checked. Mississippi's state parks are run by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP), and holiday hours vary by park. Call the military park (601-636-0583), the aquarium (228-241-1300) or the individual state park before you go. Our outdoors guide and events page cover more options.

How we chose

We kept only places and events with an official page that confirmed they are active, and we reported holiday closures exactly as each agency states them. Races came from registration pages, not social posts. We left out anything we could not confirm, including Natchez and Biloxi holiday events whose official pages gave no current date. The Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival in Ocean Springs is held in early November, before Thanksgiving, so it is not part of this guide.

Save this

• Thursday morning: run in Bay St. Louis (8:00 a.m.) or Bruce (8:00 to 11:00 a.m.).
• Thursday afternoon: drive a stretch of the Natchez Trace Parkway; visitor centers are closed.
• Friday: pick up a map in Tupelo, walk Davis Bayou in Ocean Springs, or visit the Biloxi Visitors Center.
• Saturday: choose a Saturday race in Hattiesburg or a Holly Jolly night in Oxford.
• December: the Jackson holiday parade.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Are there turkey trots in Mississippi on Thanksgiving Day?

Yes. The Bay St. Louis Turkey Trot at the Train Depot and the St. Jude Turkey Trot at Bruce Park both run on Thanksgiving morning. Check each RunSignup page for the current start times.

Are Mississippi state parks open on Thanksgiving Day?

Thanksgiving hours for Mississippi state parks are not published on the official pages we checked. Mississippi state parks are run by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, so call the individual park before you go.

Is the Natchez Trace Parkway open on Thanksgiving?

The Natchez Trace Parkway road is normally open year-round, but the Tupelo Visitor Center is closed on Thanksgiving Day. It is typically open 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on other days.

Is the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum open on Thanksgiving?

No. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson is closed on Thanksgiving Day. Check its official visit page for Friday hours.

Where can I see a Christmas parade in Mississippi after Thanksgiving?

The City of Jackson Holiday Parade runs through downtown Jackson, listed for Saturday, December 5 this year. Oxford's Holly Jolly Holidays starts November 21 and runs into January.